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HISTORY
OF THE
88™ PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS
IN THE
WAR FOR THE UNION,
1861-1865.
JOHN D. VAUTIER, J M
Co. I, 88TH REGIMENT P. V.
Our country's flag, flag of the free, We pledge our loyal hearts to thee.
PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.
E521 -5
V3
PREFACE.
THIS book is a record of the services of the soldiers of the 88th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the War for the Union. It is briefly told in army vernacular; and while the historian is conscious of many imperfections, he has tried to indite a true and impartial narrative, and asks his comrades to skip the blemishes and look for excellences, if happily any can be found.
He tenderly dedicates the work to his living comrades and to the sacred memories of those who have laid down the armor and joined the vast army in the eternal encampment beyond the silent river.
The author is under obligations to Adjutant Cyrus S. Detre for the regiment's General Order Book from October 7, 1861, to May n, 1863, and for the Morning Reports until January 17, 1864.
From these books the official record has been gathered, elaborated from the historian's daily diary, covering more than three years of the time; from the diary of Captain Charles McKnight, embracing the last campaigns; and from information culled from many sources. He has been especially aided by Comrades Samuel G. Boone, John Witmoyer, Secretary James G. Clark, John M. Wallace, Colonel McLean, Mr. John A. McKnight, James Hague, President Louis Wagner, and other kind comrades.
It is through the assistance furnished by these generous comrades that the publication of this book is rendered possible.
CONTENTS.
PAGE II
CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION AND ENCAMPMENT
CHAPTER II. WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA •.
CHAPTER III.
CAMP KELLEY TO CLOUD'S MILLS:
February to May, 1862
CHAPTER IV.
To FREDERICKSBURG :
May, 1862
CHAPTER V.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY:
May and June, 1862
CHAPTER VI.
FROM MANASSAS TO CULPEPER :
June to August, 1862 .......
CHAPTER VII.
CEDAR MOUNTAIN: ,
August 7 to 15, 1862
CHAPTER VIII.
FROM THE RAPIDAN TO BULL RUN:
August 1 6 to 29, I S62 ...
6 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
PAGE
BULL RUN:
August 30, 1862 53
CHAPTER X. A PILGRIMAGE TO BULL RUN 60
CHAPTER XI.
CHANTILLY TO SOUTH MOUNTAIN :
August 31 to September 15, 1862 67
CHAPTER XII. ANTIETAM :
September 16 to 18, 1862 73
CHAPTER XIII.
ANTIETAM TO FREDERICKSBURG :
September 19 to December u, 1862 85
CHAPTER XIV.
FREDERICKSBURG TO CHANCELLORSVILLE:
December 12, 1862, to May 7, 1863 89
CHAPTER XV. LEADING TO GETTYSBURG:
May 8 to June 30, 1863 102
CHAPTER XVI. GETTYSBURG :
July I, 2, and 3, 1863 . 105
CHAPTER XVII. A DISCURSIVE CHAPTER ON THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG . 116
CONTENTS. 7
CHAPTER XVIII.
PAGE
FROM GETTYSEURG TO MINE RUN:
July 6 to December 3, 1863 ........... 158
CHAPTER XIX.
FROM MINE RUN TO THE WILDERNESS:
December 3, 1863, to May i, 1864 ........ 168
CHAPTER XX.
WITH GRANT IN THE WILDERNESS :
May i to 7, 1864 ........ • 173
CHAPTER XXI.
LAUREL HILL AND SPOTTSYLVANIA :
May 8 to 20, 1864 ............... 177
CHAPTER XXII.
FROM THE NORTH ANNA TO COLD HARBOR:
May 21 to June i, 1864 ............. *84
CHAPTER XXIII.
FROM COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG:
June I to 16, 1864 ............... l87
CHAPTER XXIV.
PETERSBURG TO THE WELDON RAILROAD:
June 16 to August 23, 1864 ...........
CHAPTER XXV.
SIEGE OF PETERSBURG:
August 24, 1864, to March 27, 1865 .......
CHAPTER XXVI.
. 208 THE LAST CAMPAIGN .............
8 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
PAGE
SOME STRAY SHOTS 213
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CAPTURE, CONFINEMENT, AND ESCAPE. BY SAMUEL G. BOONE, OF
COMPANY B 219
CHAPTER XXIX. ECHOES FROM THE BATTLE-FIELD 225
ROSTER 229
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
1. Colonel George P. McLean ............... frontispiece.
2. General George W. Gile . .......... «
3. General Louis Wagner ................ <«
4. Reveille . . ............... ; . . . u
5. Hon. Wm. S. Stokley ..................... I4
6. Hon. Fred. L. Lauer ...................... 14
7. Lieutenant-Colonel Jos. A. McLean ............... 26
8. Major David A. Griffith ..................... 26
9. Major B. F. Foust ....................... 26
10. Adjutant C. S. Detre ...................... 26
11. Surgeon John W. Rawlins .................... 38
12. Quartermaster A. C. Wester ................... 38
13. Chaplain C. W. Clothier ..................... 38
14. Lieutenant Harry O'Neill . ................... 38
15. Principal Musician J. F. Keller ................. 38
16. Lieutenant Geo. W. Grant .................... 50
17. Corporal L. W. Bonnin ..................... 50
18. Geo. W. Boger ........................ 50
19. Jos. C. Clement ........................ 50
20. Henry Read .......... '. ............... 5°
21. Map of Bull Run ...... ................ 62
22. Lieutenant S. G. Boone ..................... 7°
23. A. D. Ermentrout ........ 7°
24. H. N. Kuhn .............. 70
25. J. L. Wentzel ........... 7°
26. Corporal Geo. W. Gaylord ........ ............ 7°
27. Captain J. J. Belsterling ..... * ................ 82
28. Lieutenant Robert Herron .................... 82
29. Corporal J. T. Williams ....... . . 82
30. Thomas Albright ......
31. James Hague .........
32. Lieutenant John Witmoyer . . . .
33. Lieutenant James McChaliker ......
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
No PACE
34. D. K. Hartzell loo
35. Corporal Henry Townsend 100
36. Sergeant William Chambers loo
37. The Battle of Gettysburg 106
38. Lieutenant Geo. E. Wagner 114
39. Lieutenant Charles Hunter 114
40. Lieutenant R. B. Beath 114
41. Lieutenant Mortimer Wisham 114
42. Corporal Harvey Myers 114
43. Map of Gettysburg 128
44. Captain C. S. Carmack 150
45. Captain E. L. Gilligan 150
46. Lieutenant Albert Booz 15°
47. Henry S. Booz 150
48. John De Haven 150
49. Captain J. Parker Martin 166
50. Captain Geo. B. Rhoads 166
51. Lieutenant A. G. Sinn 166
52. James G. Clark 166
53. Philip Schriner 166
54. Captain W. J. Harkisheimer 188
55. John Hart 188
56. John D. Vautier 188
57. John W. Sickels 1 88
58. Samuel Martin 188
59. Captain S. II. Martin 206
60. Lieutenant R. L. Cams 206
61. Sergeant Joseph Sergeant 206
62. Corporal W. B. Threapleton . . 206
63. Captain Charles McKnight 206
64. Reunion at Reading, October. 1890 216
65. Regimental Monument at Gettysburg 218
66. Taps 280
67. Frank K. Murphy 220
68. Peter D. Shearer 220
69. Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund A. Mass 220
70. John Simms 220
71. Corporal Thomas H. Anderson 220
72. Lieutenant Jonathan E. Rogers 224
73. Corporal James W. Colen 224
74. Lieutenant Harry Hudson 224
75. Sergeant John B. Donahoe 224
76. Samuel Binns 224
77. Reunion at Philadelphia, October 4, 1894 228
HISTORY
OF THE
88iH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION AND ENCAMPMENT.
THIS is not a history of the war, and it is not proper that the opening acts in that great drama should be here described ; these have all been told elsewhere, and have passed into the history of the country.
This regiment was created in compliance with the call of the President of the United States for 500,000 troops, issued May 3, 1861, and is only one of many like organizations formed in re sponse to this and subsequent calls for men to become soldiers to fight for the preservation of the Union.
It is not asserted that the regiment was superior to other similar organizations, nor is it claimed that all the credit is clue it for service in which many regiments participated, but the work is a plain narrative of the faithful service of men who, to the best of their ability and as directed, tried to serve their country and defend its flag from dishonor and disunion.
Under this call the regiment was raised in the following manner: Major George P. McLean, while serving with the 22d Pennsylvania Regiment in the three months' service, was authorized by Secretary of War Cameron, in the following order, to recruit a regiment for
the war.
ii
12 HISTORY OF THE
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, August 9, 1861. COL. GEO. P. McLEAN, Phila., Penn'a:
SIR, — The regiment which you offer is accepted for three years or during the war, provided you have it ready for marching orders in thirty days.
This acceptance is with the distinct understanding, that the Department will revoke the commissions of all officers who may be found incompetent for the proper discharge of their duties. You will promptly advise Adjutant-General Thomas the date at which your men will be ready for mustering, and he will detail an officer for that purpose, who will be instructed to muster by company.
By order of the Secretary of War.
SEAL \ (Sigd) JAMES LESLEY, JR.,
WAR DEPT \ Chief Clerk War Department.
WASH., D. C.
Preparations were at once made to form the battalion, the follow ing constituting part of the field and staff:
Colonel, George P. McLean, of Philadelphia, a prominent officer with much military experience before the war, and major of the 226. Regiment in the three months' service; Lieutenant-Colonel, Joseph A. McLean, of Reading, a brother of the colonel (he had served as adjutant of the i4th Regiment under the first call) ; Major, George W. Gile, of Philadelphia, late first lieutenant in the 22d Regiment; Benezet F. Foust, a promising young lawyer, as Adjutant ; Rev. Charles W. Clothier, a Baptist minister, as Chaplain ; and Daniel D. Jones as Quartermaster. These officers, together with Surgeons John H. Seltzer and George H. Mitchell, completed the commis sioned field.
The time of the three months' troops expiring in July and August, made good recruiting for the new regiment, which, in honor of the Secretary of War, was called the Cameron Light Guard.
Company A, from Reading, was the first company ready, and was mustered into the United States service, as full-fledged volunteers, on August 23, 1861. Companies B and H, also from Reading; Company C, from Manayunk, Conshohocken, and vicinity; and Company D, from Philadelphia, quickly followed. Companies F, I, and K, from Philadelphia, followed early in September. Com panies E and G were organized as distinct companies after the regiment left the city.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH FENNA. VOLS. 13
It was the original intention to have fifteen companies, and enough recruits were enrolled and positions expected by different persons to fill almost all the official places in a regiment comprising fifteen companies ; but a general order, issued by the War Department to all colonels then recruiting, informed them that but ten companies would be allowed each regiment, consequently some dissatisfaction was caused by this change in the program.
To make an impartial selection of the necessary commissioned officers for the ten accepted companies, Colonel McLean empowered the line officers to appoint from their number a committee to make the choice, which was done. This completed the organization with the following
ROSTER.
Colonel, GEORGE P. McLEAN. Lieutenant- Colonel, JOSEPH A. McLEAN.
Major, GEORGE W. GILE.
Adjutant, BENKZKT F. FOUST.
Quartermaster, DANIEL D. JONES.
Surgeons, DR. JOHN H. SELTZER and DR. GEORGE H. MITCHELL.
Chaplain, CHARLES W. CLOTHIER.
Band- Leader, E. ERMENTROUT.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
A. — Captain, Geo. W. Knabb; Lieutenants, Frederick R. Fritz, Albert H. Seyfert. B.— Captain, Henry A. Myers; Lieutenants, Edmund A. Mass, George 1). Rhoads. C— Captain, John J. Belsterling; Lieutenants, J. Sarazin Steeple, Harry Hudson. D.— Captain, Geo. W. Fairlamb; Lieutenants, Louis Wagner, Wm. H. Fairlamb. E.— Captain, Chris. S. Carmack ; Lieutenants, Wm. H. Shearman, Jas. S. Johnston. F.— Captain, Theo. W. Dunham ; Lieutenants, J. Pa.ker Martin, Wm. L. Street. G.— Captain, John S. Dull ; Lieutenants, Henry Korn, Walter S. Wingate. H.— Captain, David Griffith ; Lieutenants, George W. Rapp, Frank B. Shakers. I.— Captain, J. Reeside White; Lieutenants, Jacob S. Stretch, Wm. J. Harkisheimer. K.— Captain, Wm. F. Powell; Lieutenants, Syl. S. Bookhammer, Ed. V. Patterson. Sergeant- Major, John J. Levi ; Commissary Sergeant, Jacob S. Kram.
With the selection of these officers the organization of the regi ment was completed, but there were many who had entered the ranks fully expecting commissions, having recruited men wit!
object in view.
The excellent band of twenty pieces that Leader Ermentrout
14 HISTORY QF THE
brought from Reading was the pride of the regiment and contributed very much to the enjoyment of the soldiers. The members were regularly sworn into the service on August 30, 1861, having agreed to accept the compensation allowed musicians; but being skilled performers, they were promised a salary equal to that of a second lieutenant, the difference being raised by a monthly contribution from the commissioned officers of the regiment.
Upon the arrival of the Reading companies they were bountifully entertained by the colonel and then taken to camp, and so hospita bly had they been received that they were of the opinion that sol diering was not such a bad thing after all. This idea was further strengthened when they were marched to the chosen camp site, a beautiful plot of greensward, overshadowed by stately trees, situated on the sloping banks of the Schuylkill, a few hundred yards below the mouth of Wissahickon Creek. Here the tents that had been borrowed from the Green Street Methodist Episcopal Church were pitched, and preparations made to feed and shelter the embryo soldiers as they came to Camp Stokley, called so in honor of the mayor of the city, Hon. William S. Stokley. Soon the tents furnished by Uncle Sam were received, and recruiting was so brisk fhat by the 24th of September between 500 and 600 men were in camp, in charge of Major Gile, who employed his time in initiating the boys into the mysteries of battalion drill. While the major was resting, the company officers took it up, and continued the program with company drill ; and when they had exhausted their knowledge of tactics the squads were given in charge of the non-commissioned officers (mostly three months' veterans), who, in turn, thrilled the new soldiers with san guinary stories of the terrible battle of Falling Waters, and instructed them in the facings and other sublime evolutions of squad drill. Now it was "Left foot, right foot," which the giddy novices soon termed " Hay foot, straw foot ;" then " Now step off with your left foot, all together," until the recruits were sick of the whole busi ness, and protested that they did not come to tramp, but to fight. All motions of this sort were promptly overruled by the officers, and the green soldiers looked with awe upon their superiors, and wondered if they should ever attain the proficiency in the military art and the experience on the battle field possessed by these wonder-
HON. WILLIAM S. STOKLEY, Of Philadelphia.
HON. FKKI>. I- I.AIIKR, Of Reading.
KRIKNDS OF OUR REGIMENT.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 15
ful campaigners. But at any rate the boys enjoyed the novelty of the new life, enlivened by the merry shouts and queer antics of the "Squeedunks," "Wide Awakes," and other nondescript squads, and mingled pleasantly with friends and visitors who thronged the camp, appreciating the "picnic" as much as the soldiers did.
The survivors of that romantic camp will long remember those balmy days and mellow nights so happily spent with friend and comrade, and how in the city a lad topped with a fatigue cap was welcome to a free ride and the choicest seat in the cars, the greatest deference and attention being shown to any so brave as to volunteer in defence of the national government. The Reading contingent were especially conspicuous by reason of flaring tricolored neckties of generous size, which had been presented to them by their fair admirers of that loyal town.
The ladies of the Union Methodist Episcopal Church, Fourth Street below Arch, were particularly active in aiding to equip the soldiers for active service, and made many donations of useful arti cles, which kindness was fully appreciated by the men.
At this period of the war no bounties or other pecuniary induce ments were offered ; in fact, it may be reasonably questioned if many of the men knew exactly how much pay a soldier was entitled to. No selfish considerations of greed or gain actuated these men ; they would have volunteered if there had been no pay. They left their homes and business solely because their country was in danger and called for their assistance.
Colonel McLean formally assumed command of the camp on the 3d of October, celebrating the event by giving the regiment an extra measure of battalion drill. The colonel and lieutenant-colonel were brothers, and to distinguish them the men invariably spoke of them as Colonel George and Colonel Joe, terms which we will use occasionally in the present work.
Some of the younger members appeared to think battalion drill something of a frolic, laughing and joking as commands were given and evolutions performed, until the watchful eyes of Colonel Joe noticing the unbecoming hilarity, he approached the roisterers and in a few appropriate words kindly rebuked them for their trifling conduct, explaining to them the necessity of every man diligently
1 6 PI IS TORY OF THE
applying himself to the movements and so becoming a proficient soldier. Every soldier within hearing felt the force of this rebuke, and respected the lieutenant colonel for the timely words spoken. But the happy times in this delightful camp could not end the war, and when the colonel received orders on October 4 to report at once with his regiment at Washington, the men were delighted with the prospect of active service. Accordingly the stragglers were gath ered and preparations made to leave camp on Saturday, October 5, 1 86 1. The regiment had no guns, and the men did not relish the idea of going to the front without suitable equipment ; but there was no help for it, the orders being imperative.
This breaking camp was the first important military act we had been ordered to execute, and Colonel McLean determined to do the thing up brown, the following orders being strictly observed :
At the first tap of the bass drum, all preparations for striking tents were completed ; when tap number two sounded, the pins were drawn; and when the third "bang" boomed over the camp, ker- wallop ! down came every tent as if struck by lightning, revealing as by magic a mass of busy soldiers yelling with delight as they per formed this striking act. The regiment then fell in and headed for the seat of war via Ridge Avenue, the first companies being snugly packed in the horse cars; but the supply of cars falling short, the rear companies enjoyed the luxury of an elegant march along the Ridge, in the blinding dust and under the scorching sun, until the advance companies were overtaken as they quietly rested at the depot.
With the magnificent band on the lead playing martial music, the march was resumed, platoon front ; the regiment passed down the Ridge to Broad Street, to Green, to Fourth, to Noble, to Sixth, passing by the colonel's house on Sixth Street, below Callowhill ; to Walnut, where a halt was made while Colonel McLean went into court before Judge Ludlow to answer a summons concerning a minor who had enlisted in the regiment and then ran away.
The case being amicably settled, the drums beat the march along Walnut to Third, to Chestnut, to Second, to Walnut again, thence to Third, and down Third to Washington Avenue, and thence to the Soldiers' Refreshment Saloon at the wharf. Here the tired,
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. I?
hungry, and dusty soldiers washed the dirt and sweat from their faces, and then put away a good substantial supper, without money and without price, the last square meal many of these pilgrims got for many a day. But all the boys heartily wished the blessings of God on the noble men and women of the Union and Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloons who so promptly and generously ministered to the wants of the soldiers passing through Philadelphia. A volunteer dressed in Union blue was sure of a warm welcome from these loyal people, and no Union soldier ever passed through the city, while the war continued, neglected or hungry.
Supper being finished, the regiment marched to the depot at Broad Street and Washington Avenue to take the cars for the capital. Here a large number of friends had gathered to see the boys off, to bid them God-speed, and to tell them to " Come home again soon."
We sent them forth to fight for the flag
Their fathers before them bore.
Though the hot tear-drops started,
This was our parting trust :
" God bless you, boys ! We'll welcome you home
When rebels are in the dust."
About nine o'clock the train rolled out of the depot, and the Cameron Light Guard were off to the war, followed by the earnest prayers of the many dear ones who, though they knew it not, had seen many of their braves for the last time on earth.
1 8 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTER II. WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA.
BALTIMORE was reached about three o'clock in the morning, the sleepy soldiers being awakened and marched to the Washington Depot, where they lay until daylight, when breakfast was served by some gentlemen, who carried to the soldiers buckets full of hot coffee and huge baskets filled with bread and meat, all of which were freely given until the men could eat no more. In the afternoon, while waiting for the train, the regiment was paraded and presented with a United States flag.
Finally the cars were again boarded, and at dusk the great ribs of the dome of the Capitol, with the uncompleted Washington Monu ment in the background, came in view as the train steamed into the capital city. Here the regiment was taken into a long frame build ing called the Soldiers' Rest and rested for the night.
In the morning the weary men arose from their uncomfortable positions on the bare floor and fell in for breakfast, which was spread on long tables of rough boards, and consisted of a tin cup of black coffee, a hunk of bread, and a liberal piece of boiled pork, dripping with fat. There was no sugar, butter, cream, knives, forks, or other " fixins" generally found on a family table, and as the boys surveyed their breakfast, it was amusing to note the intense and unconcealed disgust exhibited at such a feed. Unaccustomed to such provender at home, they vehemently protested against being treated as hogs, and were only mollified, not satisfied, when the kind-hearted colonel assured them that it " would be all right when we got in camp and had our own cooks." With this explanation, the men partook of the spread, but rested their expectations of better times on the com pany cooks, hopes that were not realized in all cases.
It may be proper to remark here that these gentlemen got bravely over their dainty tastes ere long, and many times hungered for just
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 19
such rations as they had so contemptuously refused that morning at the Rest.
During the morning the regiment proceeded to a pleasant common known as Kendall Green, situated about a mile from the Capitol building, and, pitching tents, called it Camp Moore, in honor of Hon. Henry D. Moore, of Philadelphia.
Not having received guns, the sentries guarded the camp armed with clubs, making a ludicrous and very unsoldierlike appearance patrolling their beats equipped in this primitive fashion. To no one was this more distasteful than to Colonel George, and the officers all being armed with swords and pistols, he requested them to guard the encampment the first night, to which they willingly complied.
Accordingly, in the evening the officers, resplendent in new uni forms with shining buttons and keen swords, assembled at the guard house and took their stations to act as guards 'for the night. All went on smoothly until a terrific storm of wind and rain burst upon the camp, drenching the titled sentinels to the skin ; but they bravely faced the pelting rain and wallowed in the darkness through the mire and water until daylight (at least it is reported that some of them did), when they beat a speedy retreat to their tents, a sorry set of bedraggled and disgusted shoulder-straps who had done enough of this kind of guard duty to fully satisfy them while they remained in the service. Sentry duty was ever after cheerfully left to the private soldier.
The regiment remained in this camp until October 12, 1861, when the exciting news was promulgated that we were going to the front right away, and everybody was happy when tents were struck and, boarding a steamboat, the regiment proceeded to Alexandria, down the Potomac, seven miles from Washington.
Alexandria was soon reached, and in the evening the regiment, debarking, marched out King Street and encamped on the lots near the Episcopal Church where General Washington used to worship.
Alexandria at this time was an old-fashioned city of several thou sand inhabitants, most of whom were rank secessionists with decided aristocratic and old English tendencies, the very streets resounding with such royal names as King, Prince, Princess, Queen, Duke, St.
20 HISTORY OF THE
Asaph, Royal, and more of the same character, indicating the antiquity of the town as well as the Tory sentiment which prompted such names. There were many points of interest in this antiquated city, but the centre of attraction was the Marshall House, where Ellsworth met his untimely death, used subsequently as the quarters of Company K. The slave-pen was ako an object of especial inter est to Northerners, who viewed with horror the manacles and chains used to bind unruly negroes, the block from which they were sold, and the posts, cells, etc., where they were confined. Company C was afterwards quartered at the pen, and the soldiers took especial delight in showing and explaining to visitors the various implements which the slave-dealer had left in his flight.
On October 15 the men received muskets, a species of ancient weapon difficult to classify, and which was probably as dangerous to the man behind the gun as to the one before it ; however, they were better than none, so the boys received them gladly.
On the i8th the companies broke camp and, moving into the town, relieved the 5th New Jersey Regiment and proceeded to police the city, patrolling the streets and posting sentries on nearly every corner. The companies were quartered in different large buildings, the city being divided into districts; the soldiers settled down to the monotony of guard duty, varied in the afternoons by a parade and battalion drill by Colonel McLean.
On October 25, 1861, Private James Y. Grace, of Company D, died of lung-disease, the first soldier in the regiment to give his life for his country. On this date the regiment numbered 831 men, of whom 755 were present with their respective companies.
On the 3oth, Gosline's famous regiment of Philadelphia zouaves passed through the city and was given a cordial reception by the men of the 88th. About this time the number assigned to the regi ment was received, and it henceforth ceased to be called and reported as the Cameron Light Guards, being now known as the 88th Pennsyl vania Volunteer Infantry.
On November 15 the command escorted to the wharf the sailors who had been stationed at Fort Ellsworth, and on the 28th a like compliment was extended to the 36th and 53d Pennsylvania and 4th Rhode Island Regiments, passing through the city. During the
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 21
night of the 291)1 some of the companies were sent out on the rail road as far as Springfield, on some sort of a reconnoissance, but what it amounted to, other than to give the men a most uncomfort able soaking in the rain, has never been known.
A very important and pleasing affair occurred on January 4, 1862, being the presentation of an elegant silk flag to the regiment on be half of the State of Pennsylvania. The command paraded before the colonel's quarters, Hon. William D. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, delivering the flag to the safe-keeping of the regiment in an eloquent speech, and Colonel McLean, on receiving it, feelingly pledged the honor of the regiment that it would be returned with honor to the governor. Addresses were also made by Hon. Galusha A. Grow, Colonel Hays, Mayor McKenzie, Colonel Joe, and others, but prob ably the best-received speech was made by General Heintzelman. Much against his will, he was elbowed to the front and said, "I can't make a speech, boys; but when there's a fight about, why, count me in." Immense applause greeted this pungent oration, and the grim and grizzled old soldier fell back blushing like a school girl.
On the loth of January the man-of-war Pensacola, which had been anchored in the Potomac, sailed down the river, successfully passing the rebel batteries blockading the river below Mount Vernon. The Johnnies gave the tars a hot reception as they passed by, the sound of the enemy's guns being heard at Alexandria, the first echo of real war the regiment had heard. A few days after, the brig Perry followed the Pensacola down the river and, except a few scars from the Southern cannon, arrived in good order at Fortress Monroe.
The welcome face of the most popular officer in the service, the paymaster, appeared on the i8th, and gladdened the hearts and fattened the purses of the boys with two months' pay, some of it in gold, the ration for a high private being thirteen dollars per month and roast beef— if he could get it.
About the last of the month, Captain Carmack, Lieutenant Wag ner, Sergeants Beath, Richards, and Donohue, and Corporal Lorenzo Wilson were detailed on recruiting service. During the latter part of January the 8th Illinois Cavalry, a fine body of rugged-looking sol-
22 HISTORY OF THE
diers, was quartered in the town, and, intermingling with the men of the 88th, many warm ties of friendship were formed between the two regiments.
Just about this time an incident occurred, in which the men of both organizations participated, which at one time threatened a tragic ending. As before mentioned, many of the Alexandrians were disloyal to the government, claiming that their allegiance was due to the Southern Confederacy, and exhibiting their sympathies for the forbidden cause whenever they could conveniently do so. Many of these people worshipped at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where the minister in his prayers omitted the President of the United States, substituting instead the President of the Confederate States, and for this treasonable conduct he was arrested and taken before the provost marshal. This action incited his sympathizers to indulge in much vehement and disloyal talk, which provoked the soldiers to retaliate by nailing Union flags on the houses of some of the leading secessionists and intimating to them that it would be exceedingly unwise to remove the flags.
On February 10 the office of the Alexandria Gazette, an intensely Southern newspaper, was destroyed by fire, together with two adjoin ing buildings, the fire being checked by the efforts of the soldiers present, who, manning the dilapidated fire apparatus, prevented a conflagration that might have destroyed the city.
A day or two after a crowd of soldiers gathered in front of St. Paul's Church, presumably to raise the national flag on the peak, when some nervous sentinel sent word to the quarters of Company I that a riot was imminent, and the company coming down on the double-quick to the scene of the supposed disturbance added to the noise and confusion, drawing all the idlers in town to the locality. Captain White ordered the crowd to disperse, and, they showing no disposition to comply, formed his men to clear the street at the point of the bayonet.
Affairs were assuming a serious aspect, it needing but a spark to cause a serious explosion, when some gifted genius made a happy and telling shot by yelling at the top of his voice, "Three cheers for the three eights!" a combination of the regimental numbers of the 8th Illinois and 88th Pennsylvania. This was responded to with
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 23
a will, putting the soldiers in good humor, and Major Gile, appearing at this time, ordered the men to their quarters, thus avoiding further difficulty.
But the men were dissatisfied with the duty in Alexandria, and Colonel McLean requested orders for active service. The colonel, in the absence of General Montgomery, had been acting as military governor of Alexandria in addition to his duties as garrison officer, and, finding the duties very distasteful, asked the Secretary of War to send the regiment to the front.
At length the welcome orders came for a part of the regiment to move, and on February 18, Companies A, C, D, E, and I, bidding farewell to the Alexandrians, reported, not to the front, but to Gen eral Barry at Washington, leaving Companies B, F, H, and K at Alexandria under command of Major Gile.
24 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTER III.
CAMP KELLEY TO CLOUD'S MILLS: FEBRUARY TO MAY, 1862.
UPON reporting to General Barry, Colonel McLean was ordered across the Eastern Branch and directed to find a suitable camp ground near Fort Stan ton ; so the battalion, 450 strong, trudged through the mud beneath a most disagreeable winter rain until the prospective camp ground was reached.
The men at once tried to make themselves comfortable, but the surroundings, at the best, were very discouraging, as but little of the camp equipage had arrived and everything was saturated with rain. Some of the companies took possession of some log houses on the place and crawled in out of the wet ; but Captain Belsterling, with wisdom born of experience, instructed his command how to pitch their tents, and breaking off the branches of the pine and other evergreen trees, shook the water off and, using them for feathers, soon had the best quarters on the ground. The next day, the weather clearing, a nice camp was located near Oxen Run, and the time was pleasantly spent in drilling and in guarding Forts Baker, Davis, Goodhope, Ricketts, Greble, Stanton, Snyder, and two uncompleted earthworks that could not afford an official name.
The armaments of the forts and the details from the battalion were : Fort Baker, seven smooth 24-pounders, not mounted ; Davis, six, same calibre; Good Hope, four 32-pounders, mounted; Rick etts, four, same calibre; Greble, thirteen 32-pounders and two Parrotts; Carroll, some 32-pounders and two Parrotts ; Stanton, sixteen 32-pounders; and Snyder, six 32-pounders, — all mounted except those mentioned in Baker and Davis. The details were : from Company A, eighteen men ; C, eighteen men ; D, seven men ; E, twelve men ; I, eighteen men ; but the details generally numbered 100 men. When the boys mounted the parapets of these immense fortifications, bristling with the big barkers, they felt that a great
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 25
responsibility rested upon them in the defence of the capital, and tremblingly assumed the task; but upon becoming familiar with the surroundings they felt equal to the job, and only wanted a few brigades of Johnny Rebs to come along and be knocked sky-high by these big guns, yawning and rusting for something to do. No Johnnies came, though, the only shootable things appearing being crows and rabbits, and as the first flew too high and the latter ran too fast, the embryo artillerymen had nothing to practise on ; but a couple of nights' guard duty in the rain and mud, without any kind of shelter, chilled to the bone and as miserable and wretched as it was possible to be, took the romance out of the business of taking care of these forts.
When not on duty, the remainder of the men were industriously kept on drill until April 15, when the colonel was ordered to report at once to General Duryea at Cloud's Mills. In the mean time Major Gile's battalion had been on duty at Alexandria until early in April, when it was ordered to picket the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which duty it faithfully performed until ordered to report at Cloud's Mills simultaneously with the other wing of the regiment.
COPY OF ORDERS. SPECIAL ORDER, 43.
The 88th Regiment, upon being relieved by the 99th Pa. Vols., will proceed to Manassas by way of Alexandria, and guard the R. R. from Lancaster Station to Catlett's, head-quarters at Manassas. Col. McLean will report to Maj.-Gen. McDowell on taking post, and will previously report to Brig.-Gen. Wadsworth for verbal instructions. Those companies of the 88th at Alexandria have been ordered to Manassas.
April 14, 1862. By order
BRIG.-GEN. DOUBLEDAY.
To COL. MCLEAN.
It is my intention that your regiment should be reunited and report t. Duryea at Cloud's Mills. He is moving out now. The order to report to Genl. McDowell is countermanded.
April 16, 1862. J. S. WADSWORTH,
Brig. Gen.
Passing through Alexandria, Colonel McLean's battalion pro ceeded a mile or two out the railroad and encamped. On the
26 HISTORY OF THE
of April, Major Gile arrived with the other companies and the regi ment was reunited.
The ground assigned for the camp was a horrible place, very aptly called by some Camp Dead Horse, because of the many rotten car casses of those animals lying around, tainting the air with the most sickening and poisonous stench. Tents were willingly struck at this miserable place on the ipth, when the regiment reported to General Duryea at Cloud's Mills, being assigned to the right of his brigade ; the loyth Pennsylvania, an exceedingly fine body of men, on the left.
General Duryea, being a strict disciplinarian, desired to ascertain the proficiency of the regiment in the movements of the battalion, and requested the colonel, on the following day, to exercise the regi ment for two hours under his personal observation. Accordingly, at the appointed time the regiment was drilled by the colonel in all the movements of forming, deploying, ploying, changing, wheeling, and other difficult movements. At the end of the drill the general and his staff approached and, after being received by the proper salute, complimented the officers and men upon their proficiency in battalion movements and welcomed the regiment as worthy the post of honor in his brigade. This was a well-deserved compliment, the regiment now being in its prime : 848 men on the rolls, of whom 799 were present, the highest number mustered during its entire his tory. On April 23, Captain John S. Dull joined the regiment, and Company G, being told off, took its place in the line. The captain brought with him Lieutenants Korn and Wingate, and C. S. Marks, H. N. Blackford, John Nice, F. Ferkler, C. Poulson, G. W. Tyler, G. A. Scholl, H. Hutt, A. N. Reigert, and D. Mundell.
After a short stay at Cloud's Mills, on April 25 the regiment was ordered to picket the railroad from Bull Run to Catlett's Station, Company E being left near the bridge, the other companies posted at intervals along the road. The enemy had evacuated this position a few weeks before and gone to a more congenial place, but there were many points of interest and much abandoned and ruined war material scattered around everywhere, indicating that a large force had garrisoned this place, with every indication of a permanent occupation.
The winter-quarters of the Confederates consisted of many clusters
I.IKUTKNANT-COLOXKL JoSKl'H A. McI,KAN
(Killed at Second Hull Run.)
MAJOR DAVID A. ( ',KIM-TI n. Lieutenant-Colonel U. S. VoU
MAJOR I-JKNK/KT F. Fousr. Hrevet P,rigadier-( ieneral U. S. V(
ADJUTANT CYKTS S. DKTKE
FIK1.D OFFICERS
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 27
of commodious and comfortable log houses, built like villages, and large enough to quarter a very strong force, while extensive forts and continuous lines of breastworks commanded the country in every direction. Bull Run battle-field, some five or six miles distant, was an object of especial interest, and many pilgrimages were made by the men to that sanguinary field, the points of interest being the plateau upon which were located the Henry and Robinson farms and buildings.
While guarding the road, Company B was posted at Sangster's Station, and while there learned that a party of Confederate soldiers were accustomed to make occasional nocturnal visits to their homes in the vicinity. It was resolved to make an effort to capture them, and one dark night Sergeant Boone with a select squad of volunteers undertook the job, but by some unknown signal the enemy were warned of the trap laid for them and gave Boone and his party a wide berth.
The regiment remained on this pleasant duty until the 3d of May, when, pulling up stakes, it returned to Cloud's Mills and rejoined the brigade.
While on guard duty along the railroad the members of B Com pany spent much of their spare time in fishing and gunning. Gray squirrels were the favorite game, their bushes being fastened to the caps, in imitation of Colonel Kane's famous " Bucktail" regiment. The company officers felt proud of the unique appearance of the men adorned with this novel head-dress, and determined to give the colonel a pleasant surprise by appearing on dress parade with the new plumage. Accordingly, at the first dress parade after returning to camp, every man in the company who appeared in line was topped off with a squirrel-tail, and the left of the regiment appeared in striking contrast with the other companies on the right. The usual formalities of dress parade were performed, but those who were stationed near the colonel noticed that his glances in the direction of Company B were neither gentle nor kind, and at the proper time he summoned the commander of the company before him and said, " Captain, you will have those things removed from the caps of your men at once, and hereafter appear in the regulation uniform only." The tails went instanter.
28 HISTORY OF THE
In camp the soldiers were puzzled to know what the next move would be, countless rumors circulating as to where we were going. The wise ones, who talked knowingly, as if their information came direct from head-quarters, reasoned that, McClellan having taken the greater part of the army to the Peninsula, the regiment would soon follow, and that Richmond would then be captured and the war brought to a speedy and successful termination, though many of the despondent ones were very downhearted at the prospect of the war being over so soon, and confidently predicted that we shouldn't get even as much as a smell of a real battle. This despondency was especially noted after the news of the Union victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, and many of the men bitterly lamented the unfortunate position of the regiment, predicting that the Confed eracy would go to eternal smash before we could see a real live reb. But everything comes to them that wait, and plenty of it came to these impatient ones in good time.
On May 6 more recruits were received for G Company, among them being Daniel J. McLean, C. Wiant, and Evan S. Yerger.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 29
CHAPTER IV.
TO FREDERICKSBURG : MAY, 1862.
HOWEVER, rumors and speculations were ended when, on May 7, the colonel received orders to report at Aquia Creek, and, striking tents, line was formed and the band, piping the inspiriting Fisher's Hornpipe, led the way to Alexandria again. Colonel Gregory's gist Regiment was quartered there, and honored the command with an escort through the city.
In the afternoon the regiment paraded on Washington Street, where a magnificent sword was formally presented to Colonel McLean by Mayor McKenzie, in behalf of the loyal citizens of the town, the colonel receiving the gift and making a suitable reply.
On the following morning the regiment embarked on the steam boat North America and steamed down the broad Potomac. The frowning battlements of Fort Washington, all lined with great can non, were soon passed, and when opposite Mount Vernon the bell of the boat was slowly tolled, a custom of all the boats passing this historic plantation.
Aquia Creek was reached in due time, and upon debarking the companies marched to the hills back of the landing and, having no tents, erected brush arbors as shelters from the sun. The 56th and 9oth Pennsylvania were encamped here, both regiments receiving the new-comers with open tents and hearts. On the hills were quite a village of log huts, erected by the Confederates when they occu pied this point, and on the 9th a fire was kindled by some means among these cabins, which for a time threatened to burn the surface of the entire neighborhood, and which required hard work to ex tinguish by details from the regiments encamped near by. While the fire raged there was lively hustling on the part of the numerous rabbits, squirrels, snakes, birds, and reptiles, which fled in terror from the flames.
30 HISTORY OF THE
The men very appropriately called this place Whippoonvill Hill, from the numerous vvhippoonvills that nested here and sang their plaintive songs all night long; but the regiment bid good-by to these melancholy serenaders on May n, taking up the march to the Rappahannock near the little city of Fredericksburg, names des tined to become famous in the annals of the war. This was the first solid march the boys had enjoyed, but the least said about the enjoyment the better, they being burdened with enormous knap sacks, containing about everything a soldier needed and much that he didn't need, including changes of clothing, letters, relics, etc., the supply of the last named being especially abundant. While they had hoarded and prized these treasures for the past seven or eight months, they quickly found on this march that they had no need for nearly three-thirds of the contents of their " trunks," and the road from Aquia to Falmouth was strewn with enough miscellaneous articles of clothing to stock an untold number of hand-me-down shops, could their proprietors have been present to secure the spoils.
Under these loads the march proved very hard, and before the river was reached the boys were nearly played out, and eagerly ques tioned every native who hove in sight as to how far it was to Fred ericksburg ; but small comfort was derived from the replies, as one would " reckon it was nigh onto five mile," and after tramping that distance and again inquiring, the reply would in all probability be, "A right smart chance; about five or six miles, I reckon." This conflicting opinion about distances was a peculiarity of the Vir ginians that held good during the war. But at last the river was reached; the regiment, being minus tents, bivouacked in the fields opposite the town and again erected brush shelters, which, while protecting the men from old Sol's scorching beams, didn't turn the rain-water worth a cent.
Fredericksburg is an old town of very small size, back of which is a low range of hills, made famous by the sanguinary battles fought there later on. In the river, below the town, were the charred wrecks of several large steamboats, destroyed by the rebs to prevent them from falling into Uncle Sam's hands ; they also burned the railroad bridge, but this was quickly replaced by a substantial trestle bridge, con structed by the Pioneer Corps of the Pennsylvania Reserves.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 31
The Sunday service on the i8th was conducted by Chaplain Clothier, and after church 86,000 rounds of ball cartridges were issued, the regiment then being well supplied with both spiritual and carnal ammunition for the anticipated warfare.
By order of General Ricketts, on May 20, Quartermaster D. D. Jones was appointed brigade commissary, succeeding Lieutenant L. Frank Binder, relieved at his own request. A very large force had now assembled at this place, and the men were in another ferment of expectancy as to the next move.
General McDowell reviewed Ord's division on the 2oth of May, and on the 2ist the overcoats and surplus baggage were sent to Washington. Shields's division arrived on the 22d, and on the 23d, President Lincoln, accompanied by many famous civil and military people, reviewed the entire army, the divisions forming long lines, and after the President had critically inspected each battalion, the regiments broke into column, company front, and passed in review, — a magnificent spectacle, as the 40,000 soldiers, in perfect alignment, with glistening bayonets and fluttering colors, marched proudly on before the President.
After this review it was expected that the corps would join Mc- Clellan, and if this had been done, it is very probable that the doom of Richmond would have been sealed and the seat of war carried farther south. This movement was contemplated and fully intended, orders having been issued to move south on May 26 ; but the Con federates prevented this march, playing on the fears of the Wash- ingtonians by sending the redoubtable Jackson on an excursion into the Shenandoah Valley with such effect that the greater part of McDowell's corps was sent to meet this irruption and trap "Old Jack," who, after smashing the combination, slipped from the Valley and moved post-haste to the rescue of Lee at Richmond. The final results of all these manoeuvres have passed into history.
With this digression we will again fall in with the regiment, which still lay opposite Fredericksburg, anxiously waiting the signal for the grand march southward. The two bits of canvas called shelter tents by the powers that be, but styled dog tents by the boys, were issued on the 24th of May, and the following day the general was sounded ; the men, breaking up housekeeping and packing their
32 HISTORY OF THE
carpet-bags, formed line and waited several hours for the head of column to pull out, in what direction no fellow could tell. After a tiresome delay the drums rattled the "fall-in," and about three o'clock, with the head-quarters flag on the lead, the line stretched out towards the river-bank ; but presently, much to the disappoint ment of the troops, the column turned towards the rear and headed for the Potomac, at Aquia Creek Landing.
Under the rays of a scorching sun, through clouds of stifling dust, with knapsacks and accoutrements that felt as if they weighed a ton, the men marched on the quickstep to the landing, and by the de vious way taken it must have been at least fifteen miles if it was a step, though some of the boys said it seemed as if " it was nigh onto a hundred miles." The result was that many of the soldiers were completely used up and compelled to fall out by the way, though Major Gile, from his position on the left of the regiment, encour aged the men by kindly informing them that this was one of the marches they would read about.
About ten o'clock at night the vicinity of the landing was reached, and the weary soldiers, throwing themselves on the grass, quietly rested until morning, sleeping the sleep of the tired, if not of the just.
The next morning, Monday the 25th of May, the various regi ments, taking boats, steamed up the broad Potomac to Washington, then back again to Alexandria, where the troops landed, and, taking the cars, reached Manassas Junction at midnight and bivouacked in the fields.
COPY OF ORDER. HEAD-QUARTERS 20 Div. IST ARMY CORPS, May 28, '62.
SPECIAL ORDER, No. 6.
The division will march for Front Royal. Ricketts's ist Brig, will take the advance with one of Major Tillson's Batteries. Two companies of Allen's ist Maine Cav. will be detailed as advance guards. HartsufPs 3d Brig., to which Matthews's and Leppien's Batteries and Allen's Cav. will be attached, will follow. Gen. Duryea's 2d Brig, will bring up the rear. Reveille will be beaten at four o'clock and the division will start at five each morning.
By command of
MAJ.-GEN. ORD.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 33
CHAPTER V.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY: MAY AND JUNE, 1862.
THE division concentrated at Manassas Junction on the 2yth of May, and on the afternoon of the 28th the bugles called into line and the march was on for the Shenandoah Valley, along the line of the railroad. As the long column, with martial music and fluttering colors, wound over the plain, it presented a spectacle of military pomp and splendor not often seen and in sharp and sad contrast to the sad sight presented by this same division on this same ground a few months later on.
Now, regiment after regiment, battery, and squadron promptly took position in the sinuous line of blue, while the glinting sunbeams merrily flashed and reflected in glittering rays of light on the shining surface of miles of polished steel, intermingling with the bright colors of the flags, as they were proudly carried along the marching line. There were many excellent regiments present, including the nth, Qoth, and icyth Pennsylvania; 26th, 83d (pth New York State Militia), 94th, 97th, io4th, and io5th New York; i2th and i3th Massachusetts; ist Maine Cavalry, and many others, — in all, about 9000 strong, commanded by General Ord.
At night the division halted near Gainesville ; the following morn ing the drums called the men up at the first blush of daylight, and after a hasty breakfast the march was resumed, the little hamlet of Haymarket being soon reached and the column halting about three o'clock P.M., after passing through Thoroughfare Gap, a gorge in the Bull Run Mountains, having made about fifteen miles.
The marching was not severe, but the men had enormous knap sacks, besides being encumbered with extra ammunition, rations, accoutrements, and a twelve-pound rifle. It was no light task to carry this burden, that must have weighed fifty or sixty pounds, but .on a long march felt as if it weighed a couple of hundred, and it
34 HISTORY OF THE
was interesting to see the boys, when a halt was ordered, open their sacks and carefully survey the contents to see what could be most readily dispensed with. The first article to go would possibly be a woollen blanket, then an extra pair of trousers, followed by a dress- coat or other heavy clothing. At all succeeding halts a like critical inspection would be made, until almost everything was cast away, the last to go being the knapsack; all extra "duds" were dispensed with except the ammunition and rations, though many of the men ate the surplus stock of the latter to avoid carrying them in their haversacks.
Reveille sounded early on the morning of the 30th, and at six o'clock the march was resumed, the sun being very hot until the afternoon, when a cold rain drenched the men to the skin, and con tinued, with intermittent spells of sunshine, for nine successive days, making the marching in the mud and lying on the wet ground extremely uncomfortable and unhealthy.
During the day the column passed through the villages of White Plains and Salem, halting for the night near Oak Hill, and pitching tents in the fields near this place. After the shelters were arranged, a fine flock of sheep was discovered in a field close by, and some of the boys determined to have a ration of mutton for supper. Accordingly, the flock was corralled in a corner and a cautious advance made upon it, care being taken to select some of the choicest lambs for the prospective victims. All things were about ready for a grand grab, when the entire herd made a simultaneous and successful break for liberty, all escaping except one old ram of ante bellum days, the ancient wether of the flock, who, not being as spry as the younger sheep, fell a victim to the greed of the foragers. A second foray on the flock, however, proved successful in securing something more tender, and the men had an abundant supply of mutton boiled, mutton broiled, and mutton fried for supper and breakfast.
The march was begun at daybreak the next morning, and upon reaching a small place called Piedmont, the knapsacks were left and a forced march made, with Front Royal as the objective-point. Markham was passed late in the afternoon, and when Manassas Gap was reached night had settled down over the mountains,
EIGHTY- EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 35
making the passage dangerous and difficult ; but the soldiers trudged wearily along over the ties in silence, soaking wet and uncomfort able, until late at night, when the column turned off into the fields and halted near Front Royal, the men being so completely exhausted that they threw themselves on the ground in the rain and slept until morning, many of them awakening to find themselves lying in pools of water.
The next day was the ist of June, and, forming column, the division marched through Front Royal, taking position in line of battle over the Shenandoah, at the place where Colonel Kenly's force had been routed by the enemy a few days before. The line was quickly formed, colors unfurled, batteries galloped into position, and, un- limbering, the cannoneers stood by their guns waiting for the advent of the enemy ; but at this hour Jackson was no nearer than Stras- burg, ten miles away, with no thought of coming to Front Royal to accommodate McDowell with a fight, but being industriously en gaged in "gitting" up the valley, away from the forces that would soon make it very hot for him if he tarried longer in this neigh borhood.
While lying here, General Shields, with his wounded hand wrapped in bandages, came along at the head of his famous division and passed through our lines on the quickstep, marching up the Luray Valley to head off the Confederates at Harrisonburg. The men heartily cheered the gray old soldier and his brave troops, but after they passed by the men quietly settled down to rest as best they could in the rain and mud. Having neither blankets nor tents, the soldiers suffered very much, and, to make matters worse, the rations fell short, but five crackers per day with a meagre supply of coffee and meat being allowed for each man, and sometimes this scanty allowance was all that was issued for two days' subsistence.
The constant rains causing a freshet in the Shenandoah, the regi ment was brought over to the south bank before the bridges were washed away; but the 26th New York was not so fortunate, being left on the opposite bank to take care of itself.
The camp equipage and knapsacks arrived on the 5th, a camp being laid out in the woods near Front Royal, and while here the paymaster arrived and gave each man two months' pay. The weather
36 HISTORY OF THE
cleared off balmy and warm on the 8th, and from this time our ex perience in this beautiful valley, with its waving crops and pleasant scenery, was of the most charming nature, in part compensating for the hardships and toil the soldiers had experienced the past two weeks.
On the 1 8th of June, 1862, marching orders were received, and, striking tents, the division took the cars bound for Manassas Junc tion, the chase after Stonewall having proved a lamentable failure, to say the best of it.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 37
CHAPTER VI.
FROM MANASSAS TO CULPEPER : JUNE TO AUGUST, 1862.
THE boys did not enjoy the night ride in the freight cars much, though it was a free excursion at Uncle Sam's expense, and were glad to reach Manassas about three o'clock on the morning of June 19. At daylight the camp was located on the ground that had been occupied prior to the trip to the Valley, but in the afternoon it was moved about two miles from the Junction, and the «men, presuming that they were fixed for a while, laid out a very neat encampment ; but, much to the vexation of all except the moving spirit, the next morning another shift was made, this time near some rebel huts, these being occupied by the officers, while the soldiers pitched their white tents near by. Here, Captains White and Powell and Lieu tenant Shearman, having resigned their commissions, left the regi ment and went home. On the 2ist of June the splendid band belonging to the regiment, in conformity to a general order from the War Department, also left. The boys were greatly attached to and justly proud of their band, and sorrowfully saw the good fellows composing this famous organization turn their faces towards Berks County. Before leaving they serenaded the command, performing about all the music in the book with a vim that was long remembered, the finale being " Home, Sweet Home;" then they packed up and marched away, followed by the huzzas of the soldiers so long as they were in sight.
General Ord having been transferred to another department, on June 23, General Ricketts assumed command of the division, General Tower being assigned to command the brigade.
On July i the number present with the regiment was 664, of which 615 were for duty, indicating a loss of upward of 100 men since the 24th of May, entirely caused by the exposure and hardships incident to the march to the Valley, as not a gun had been fired at a deadlier foe
38 HISTORY OF THE
than a pig or a chicken. To make up this loss a detail for recruit ing service was ordered, consisting of Lieutenant Mass, Lieutenant Harkisheimer, Sergeant- Major Levi, and Sergeant Nuskey, to report to the Adjutant-General's office at Washington.
While encamped here great preparations were made to celebrate in a fitting manner the " Glorious Fourth," a grand program being arranged, including speeches, fireworks, and something else that the commissary furnished, the last being mostly for the officers. The camp had been tastefully decorated with evergreens, arches, bowers, and other trimmings, presenting a beautiful and unique appearance. But man proposes and the general disposes, for early on the 4th the general sounded, and in one hour an angry and disgusted division was marching southward, scorched by the sun and smothered by the dust, instead of having a good time jollifying in camp. After an easy march, the column halted in the evening near Gainesville and rested for the night.
At day-dawn on the 5th the bugles called the men up, and after feasting on coffee, hardtack, and pork, the march was continued, passing through New Baltimore and Buckland, quiet little hamlets of a few houses each, and arriving at Warrenton late in the day. Upon approaching this pleasant town the lines were dressed and, with flying colors and rattling drums, the column marched through the main street, halting a couple of miles beyond, having marched some sixteen or seventeen miles since morning. During the march the sun was blistering hot and the clouds of thick dust stifled the men, causing many to fall out of the ranks to seek water and rest; consequently, when the halt was ordered there was but a corporal's guard present with each company. This annoyed Colonel George exceedingly, and when the stragglers came into camp they had the law laid down to them in a way they did not soon forget.
The brigade remained here until July 22, when the camp was moved to near Waterloo Bridge on the Rappahannock, the ground assigned to the 88th Regiment being a miserable plot, covered with briers, bushes, and stumps.
On July 27, George W. Boger was appointed butcher for the brigade, relieving Andrew Carter, of Company G. Here the time was passed in drills, reviews, and in preparing for the inevitable
QUAKTEKMASTKK AuMiKT C. WliSTHK.
CHAI'I.AIN C'llAKI.I-S W. Cl.OTIUKK.
SUKGEON JOHN WINDSOR RAWI.INS.
an-HNANT HAKUY O'Niui.i.. (Companies I and K.) Quartermaster-Sergeant .
JOHN K. KKI.I.I-K. Principal Mtisirian
STAFl- OFK1CKRS.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS, 39
conflict that every one felt would soon be on. General Pope was organizing the Army of Virginia to take an active part in the coming campaign as circumstances might direct. The advance on the Pen insula against Richmond had proved a failure, and there were good reasons for expecting that Lee would soon turn his attention to this army, and especially to General Pope. The general reviewed Rick- etts's division, now in the zenith of its strength, on August i, and complimented General Ricketts on the discipline and excellent bearing of his soldiers.
While in this camp a detail from the 88th guarded a large herd of cattle corralled in a field west of the camp. One night thirty-four head upset the fence, and in the morning, when the sentinels awoke, they had gone " over the hills and far away." The frightened guards at once went in pairs to scour the country for the lost steers, their steps quickened by fearful thoughts of terrible punishment by court- martial and the like. At day-dawn two of the scurrying guards struck the trail of the fugitives and followed it through the woods, expecting to overtake them before they had gone far ; but the tracks led them mile upon mile, over the crest of the mountain and through the valley beyond, until, after a weary chase, they were discovered at last quietly resting in the yard of a farm-house, around which many people were seen, it appearing as if the cattle had been purposely driven there. The two pursuers, being entirely unarmed, were at first inclined to make a quiet retreat and get re-enforcements, but after a brief council of war on the steer question, they determined upon the recovery of the cattle before they could be driven farther away ; so each one sticking a big corn-cob under his blouse to re semble a huge pistol, they boldly marched up and claimed the herd, in the mean time loudly suggesting to one another the propriety of shooting one or two recalcitrant beeves who exhibited a disposition to go every way but the right way. The confident bearing of the two blue-coats had the effect of keeping the occupants of the farm house quiet, and, after a feeble show of resistance, they allowed the herd to be driven away, to the intense relief of the guards, who soon met an armed force coming from camp to their assistance.
Having had no breakfast, the guards were very hungry, and, stop ping at a comfortable-looking farm-house, politely asked for break-
40 HISTORY OF THE
fast. Bread and milk was all that could be obtained, and when this had vanished, "mine host" presented his bill, — twenty-five cents for each soldier fed. Nathan White, of Company I, acted as treas urer of the squad, but all the available funds was a bogus quarter, which he kindly gave the gentleman, telling him that the next time he passed that way he would pay the rest.
Dr. Seltzer, the regimental surgeon, having resigned and gone home, on July 27, Dr. David Kennedy was temporarily assigned for duty with the regiment, by order of the brigade surgeon.
After a further stay in this pleasant place, the movement south ward was begun. On August 5 the division struck tents, and, march ing through Jeffersonville, halted, near Culpeper on the afternoon of the 6th. The marching was not severe, but the men suffered in tensely from the hot sun, the smothering dust, and the lack of good drinking-water. This part of Virginia is noted for a scarcity of pure spring water, the springs and wells being few and far between, and when a clear stream of water was reached it was quickly ren dered unfit for use by the dipping in of hundreds of cups and can teens by the thirsty soldiers, who, caring only for their own personal wants, were not careful to leave the stream clear for those who came later on. The official order for this march issued by General Tower directed the brigade to move in the following order : first, 94th New York; second, 88th Pennsylvania; third, 9oth Pennsylvania; fourth, 26th New York. On the second day's march the formation was by regiments, — thus, 88th, goth, 26th, and 94th, — ambulances and trains bringing up the rear.
Things now began to look interesting, and most of the boys were inclined to think that after all we should see some very active service, and they were not very hard to persuade, either. Some of the officers had been absent from their commands, but when the signs betokened battle they quickly came back, to be with the boys if there was to be any fighting. Adjutant Foust returned on the 4th, Captain Wagner and Lieutenant Wingate on the 6th, and Colonel McLean on the 7th, — all just in time for the regiment's initial battle.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PEA'NA. VOLS. 41
CHAPTER VII.
CEDAR MOUNTAIN : AUGUST 7 TO 15, 1862.
THE regiment remained near Culpeper on the yth, but the cavalry reporting the enemy crossing the Rapidan, fifteen miles below, Ricketts's division, on the afternoon of the 8th, was marched through the town and formed in line of battle about two miles out.
On Saturday morning, August 9, the Confederates pressed the cavalry back, and Banks's corps having just arrived, was ordered down to meet them. Banks had a splendid body of men, and as they marched by with stirring music and fluttering colors, many expressions of admiration were passed upon their soldierly bearing and appearance as hardy, robust men. Many old friends were recognized in the ranks of the 28th, 29th, 46th, io9th, and mth Pennsylvania Regiments, and Collis's Zouaves, and many a hand was shaken and good-by spoken for the last time.
These troops struck the van of the enemy in the afternoon, and made it hot and lively for Stonewall until he got his troops well in hand ; then he turned the tables on Banks, forcing his exhausted regiments back by overwhelming numbers: it was an unequal con test, the proportion being about seven or eight Union soldiers to twenty or twenty-five Johnnies. From our position the sound of the battle was distinctly heard, and the balls of white smoke from the bursting shells could be seen over the trees. The Confederates had a very heavy gun planted on the mountain-side, and every few minutes the loud report of this piece came rumbling- through the woods above the roar of all the other cannon engaged.
Late in the day, Ricketts's division was ordered to the rescue, and, hurrying down the road through the wounded and stragglers, soon came to the edge of the battle-field. The remnant of Banks's corps, after being terribly cut up, was stubbornly contesting the enemy's advance, but in imminent danger of being completely
42 HISTORY OF THE
swept away by the Confederates, who were pushing their compact lines of fresh brigades in our direction. Tower's brigade formed quickly in line, supporting Hall's and Thompson's batteries, Colo nel Christian's 26th New York and the 88th on the right, the Qoth Pennsylvania, Colonel Lyle, and Colonel Root's 94th New York being on the left. The pop and bang of the rifles sounded nearer and nearer, while the shot and shell from the rebel cannon dropped uncomfortably close, as they cautiously felt their way onward ; but the men stood quietly in line, waiting for them to uncover in our front, the batteries being on a slight eminence in the rear, with the cannoneers standing by their guns ready for action.
The deepening shades of night were fast covering the sombre scene with a pall of gloom and smoke, the woods mingling their lengthening shadows in the gathering darkness, as every man waited and watched the mountain anxiously, not knowing just where the enemy was; but the occasional "zip" and the dull droning of a spent ball indicated that his skirmishers were close at hand and hunting for business.
We had not very long to wait. Suddenly in front, lightening up the gloom of the woods, came a score of bright flashes resembling fire-flies, followed quickly by the crack of the rifles and the sharp " zip, zip" of the balls as they sung merrily overhead. Every man took a firmer hold of his musket, while Colonel McLean, going along the line, gave the command, "Steady, men; steady, now." Scarcely had these words of caution been passed along when the woods in front flashed with the fire of a Confederate battery, and the shot came hissing and screaming overhead, leaving a trail of fire through the darkness. Our batteries at once accepted the chal lenge and opened a quick reply, and for a half- hour the duel was kept up, until the enemy ceased firing, when our guns also slackened their fire and finally stopped barking altogether. ^\\\^ rencontre was caused by the desire of General Jackson to push on to Culpeper that night, and it was Pegram's battery, supported by Field's brigade, that was advancing to see if the coast was clear. The Confederate General Hill reported that Pegram's loss in men and horses was so severe that he was soon silenced. He had two guns dismounted,
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA, VOLS. 43
and was glad to back out and let the Yankee gunners alone, having got all the fight he wanted for one night.
Tower occupied this line until near day-dawn, when a position was taken a little in the rear and preparations were made to meet the anticipated attack ; but it did not come, and when the skirmishers advanced to feel for our Southern friends, it was discovered that they had fallen back too, being in line on Cedar Mountain, which position they evacuated on the nth, retreating across the Rapidan. The loss in the regiment was only one man, George Teed, who was wounded by a fragment of shell.
On the nth the brigade advanced over the battle-field, and the havoc wrought by the Union batteries in this night duel could be seen. Lying all around were dead men, mangled artillery horses, broken gun-carriages, and accoutrements of war, evidently mostly belonging to Pegram's battery, which must have had a hot time trying to hold its position. Everywhere were new-made graves; all over the battle-field, by the roadside, in fence corners, and under the trees, — every place was dotted with the fresh earth turned over some soldier who had fought his last battle and whose life-blood had reddened the ground as he struggled in his agony to drag his mangled form to some place for shelter and relief. Within the Southern lines the graves were also numerous, no place being without a full complement. Where the regiments stood the men fell in rows and heaps and were buried mostly where they fought and fell. In looking at these festering and bloated bodies, a sol dier could truly realize what little value was placed upon that most precious gift, human life.
So ended this premature and somewhat remarkable contest, in which General Banks with about 8000 men attempted to drive Jack son's entire corps, composed of eleven brigades, upward of 20,000 of probably the best soldiers in the Southern army, who, having assisted in the repulse of General McClellan's army before Richmond, were confident of achieving an easy victory over General Pope's scattered divisions.
The Union loss was 2400, that of the Confederates 1500. On the following day, General Pope, having concentrated his army, had within supporting distance Ricketts's division, 8000 strong; Sigel's
44 HISTORY OF THE
corps, n,ooo; and King's division, nearly 9000 well-disciplined troops, in addition to Banks's used-up corps, and if an advance had been promptly made, Jackson would undoubtedly have been placed in an embarrassing position. If he had remained to accept battle, the result would scarcely have been doubtful. But no aggressive move ment was made, and after the enemy had retreated across the Rapidan the Federal army occupied the mountain, Tower's brigade marching down to the river on the i5th, going into camp within cannon-shot of the insurgent position. On the i4th, Assistant Surgeon Joseph H. Hayes reported for duty to the regiment.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 45
CHAPTER VIII.
FROM THE RAPIDAN TO BULL RUN: AUGUST l6 TO 29, 1862.
THE stay of the regiment on the Rapidan was of few days and full of trouble, but camp discipline was rigidly maintained. On the i6th, Colonel McLean treated the command to battalion drill among the briers, in plain view and within cannon-shot of our friends the enemy. It is not known what they thought about the drill, but the boys in the regiment had a decided repugnance to marching through blackberry bushes, and expressed their opinions in some pungent re marks that would have been entirely out of place in a Sunday-school. Camp was changed on the iyth to near Mitchell's Station, and on the night of the i8th the army was ordered to fall back to the line of the Rappahannock.
The situation was briefly this : General Pope held the line of the Rapidan, with Sigel's corps on the right, McDowell's in the centre, Reno's division on the left, and Banks's at Culpeper, — in all, barely 40,000 troops of all arms. Across the little stream called the Rapi dan River the Southern army was being rapidly concentrated to crush Pope before he could be re-enforced to any considerable extent from McClellan's army, which had been ordered by Halleck to come to Pope's assistance, thereby transferring the war from the vicinity of Richmond to this point. Cedar Mountain is about equidistant between Richmond and Washington. The railroad from the Rapidan to Culpeper runs almost due north, but, with the other main roads, turns sharply to the right after leaving the town. Owing to the trend of these roads, the Southern forces at the lower fords of the Rapidan were actually nearer to the Rappahannock railroad bridge than was the main body of the Union army. Lee's plan was to cross the lower Rapidan on the i8th of August, destroy the railroad bridge at Rappahannock Station by means of Stuart's cavalry, then break Pope's left wing, and so take the Union army in reverse and
46 HISTORY OF THE
crush it. With his great numerical superiority at that time this move ment might have succeeded ; but General Pope was quick to see his danger, and before Lee could consummate this movement, the Union army had fallen back behind the Rappahannock.
On the night of the i8th, after the army had quietly marched away, Tower's brigade struck tents and, after replenishing the numerous camp fires, silently followed the rest of the army towards Culpeper, thus forestalling Lee's movement, which in all probability, had the proposed march been made in time, would have been dis astrous to Pope's army.
Before moving, orders were received to detail a force under com mand of Lieutenant Hudson, of Company C, to assist in destroying the railroad bridge over Cedar Run. When the detail reached the bridge the pioneers had cut the stringers almost through, and as Hudson was about stepping on the bridge it fell with a crash, a piece of broken timber striking him in the body, rendering him uncon scious and inflicting injuries from which he died the following day. He was a very popular officer, being highly esteemed by every man in the regiment, and was the first commissioned officer in the 88th to give his life for his country.
The brigade, bringing up the rear of the army, made only a couple of miles the entire night. The head of column would scarcely get started before meeting some obstruction which would cause a long delay, and so the weary night passed and at day-dawn the brigade had hardly reached Cedar Mountain battle-field.
At daylight the brigade was formed in line of battle near the battle-field, expecting the enemy to cross the Rapidan immediately upon learning of the retrograde movement ; but after waiting a couple of horns and the Johnnies not appearing, the line of march was resumed, and, passing through Culpeper, the brigade pulled out for the Rappahannock. Night came before the river was reached, but the regiment with the brigade pushed on with scarcely a halt over the roughest and rockiest kind of a road until late at night, when, tired, sleepy, and hungry, we crossed the river, and soon the entire force except tht* guards was sound asleep on the hard ground. This was an exceedingly severe march, and the surviving members of the regiment who were there will readily recall it to mind. By
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 47
the route chosen the regiment had tramped over twenty-five miles since morning.
On the 2oth, Lieutenant Hudson was buried near the river, and the regiment was drawn up in line of battle on the north bank, a detail being sent across to the south bank to dig intrenchments. Colonel Coulter was across the river with his regiment, being sta tioned on the red hills near the bridge, and, throwing his command out as skirmishers, kept the enemy in check, his line being in sight near the woods.
The 2oth of August passed without a fight, but about ten o'clock on the morning of the 2ist the enemy suddenly opened a rapid and accurate fire, directed upon the red hills, from several batteries of artillery, the position occupied by Coulter's regiment and a detail of pioneers being completely raked by the enemy's shell, which, bursting, scattered their whizzing fragments in every direction. A portion of Hartsuff's brigade, with Thompson's and Matthew's Penn sylvania batteries, passed over the river on a rough bridge which had been laid by the pioneers, and the guns opening a rapid fire upon the Confederates, soon silenced them and drove them away.
The 22d was passed in lively skirmishing and cannonading, but with no decisive result, except that a few men were wounded by the enemy's fire and many more badly scared. One straggler, while coming from the rear, observed an unfriendly solid shot making a bee-line for his head, the ball striking the ground and ricocheting as it came along ; but a lively juke saved the threatened head and the cannon-ball spent itself harmlessly in the rear.
It was General Pope's intention to throw quickly a large force over the river and make a determined attack on Lee's army while it was strung out along the river from Kelly's Ford to Waterloo, but a very heavy rain spoiled the plan and made it necessary to recall the detachment on the south bank before the bridges should be swept away by the rapidly rising waters, already assuming the force of a flood. Accordingly, on the 23d the detachment was with drawn, when the enemy at once pushed forward his artillery and infantry to occupy the vacated position. A hot fight immediately ensued, principally between the artillery, the Union guns on the north bank consisting of Hall's, Leppien's, Matthew's and Thomp-
48 HISTORY OF THE
son's batteries, while the Confederates were represented by the first and third companies of the Washington Artillery, the Macbeth and Dixie Artillery, and Stribling's battery, supported by Anderson's, Evans's, and other brigades of infantry. The Union loss was not severe, though several men in the 88th were wounded by fragments of shells; but it is interesting to know that our opponents had any thing but a nice time in trying to cross the river. Captain Boyce, commanding the Macbeth Artillery, galloped his battery up the hill, and reports that in less than two minutes he was compelled to retire without being able to fire a shot, and in that short time lost seven men and seven horses. The first battery Washington Artillery was driven off with a loss of fourteen men and twenty-one horses. Evans's brigade lost in men, the other brigades and batteries also suffering greatly. The total loss of the enemy in this spirited affair was between 200 and 300 men. At the termination of the contest, on the afternoon of the 23d of August, the Union army held its position, the enemy having been foiled in every attempt to force a passage of the river.
During the day a body of Confederate horsemen attempted to ford the river, but were quickly repulsed, a well-directed shot emptying the saddle of the leading horse. The animal, subsequently coming across the river, was captured by Corporal Albert Williams, of Com pany D, and confiscated by Lieutenant Fairlamb, then acting adju tant of the regiment. The enemy finally gave up the attempt to drive our forces away, and began a movement up the river, which necessitated a corresponding move on the part of General Pope's army.
This affair at the bridge will not be called much of a fight, but it nevertheless was a gallant attack and an obstinate and successful defence. The five Confederate batteries engaged threw away 1182 rounds of ammunition, the amount fired by the Union cannon (to more purpose) being probably much greater. The men of the 88th exhibited commendable coolness and discipline under the heavy fire to which they were subjected. While lying in the woods many shells burst overhead, scattering with their singing fragments the limbs of the trees and wounding several of the men ; but the boys lay low until Colonel McLean took them along the
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 49
road, where the shells made less noise and probably did less damage.
During this fierce artillery duel a detail of volunteers from the 88th was sent to assist in working Hall's battery, the men remaining with the guns several days. In the afternoon the Pennsylvania Re serves, just from the Peninsula, marched by in a drenching storm, the rain descending in bucketfuls, making the situation anything but a picnic. At dark a detail was sent to fire the railroad bridge, and Tower's brigade, bringing up the rear, commenced a weary night march in the mud to some point up the river. Whenever a perilous point was to be guarded, Tower's brigade was chosen for the job, because the commander and command stood so high in the estima tion of the general. Probably if the boys had understood it better at the time the honor might have been appreciated more than it really was. It was the unanimous opinion of the men marching in the column that the mud on these roads took first premium for sticki ness and tenacity. Many of the soldiers were completely mired, having to be extricated from the mud that clung to their feet like glue, and not a few had their shoes torn off, losing them in the darkness. About two o'clock the column halted, the exhausted men sleeping soundly in the mud until daylight.
On the morning of Sunday, May 24, the march was resumed, but we had not gone far before the sound of battle was heard in the direction of Sulphur Springs, when the column about-faced and pro ceeded in that direction ; but, assistance not being needed, turned again, and at nightfall halted on the Culpeper road, midway between Warrenton and the Rappahannock.
The 25th was passed in marching forward and backward over the hills, through the briers and stones, much to the discomfort of those of the men who had no shoes to protect their feet from the thorns and sharp boulders lying in the fields.
The 26th of August was an exceedingly hot day, but there was no rest for the weary, hungry, and bewildered troops engaged in watch ing the mysterious movements of the enemy, supposed to be across the river. At daybreak the bivouac was abandoned, the head of column being directed to the left ; but it had not gone far when the heavy booming of artillery in the direction of Sulphur Springs
4
50 HISTORY OF THE
caused the division to turn in that direction. It appeared, however, that King's division was able to hold its own, so the column halted in the grateful shade of a thick woods, but presently turned again towards Warrenton, marching slowly and wearily on until dusk, when a halt was ordered and the tired and supperless men threw themselves on the ground and rested until morning. These con flicting and tiresome movements were as mysterious as provoking to the men, and they could not understand why they were made.
The key to the situation is found in the following explanation :
General Jackson cut loose from Lee on the morning of the 25th to get between Pope and Washington. He reached Salem at night, passed through Thoroughfare Gap on the 26th, and arrived at Bristoe Station the same afternoon, appropriating everything he could lay his hands on and burning what he could not carry. He was consequently in the rear of the Union army and broke its commu nications with Washington. He left Manassas Junction on the night of the 27th, concentrating near Sudley Springs, where he will be found later on, ready to tackle any Union force that should come within his reach.
The 2yth of August was very hot and sultry, and the brigade lay in the fields several hours, the Union generals apparently at a loss what to do or where to go ; but in the afternoon the column made a hurried march through Warrenton, and, keeping the road until two o'clock in the morning, halted near New Baltimore. At the first streak of daylight on Thursday, the 28th, the march was re sumed, but it was difficult to keep all the soldiers in the ranks, some of them being sick, large numbers utterly exhausted, and all tired and half starved ; consequently the roads were lined with stragglers, most of them very unwillingly so, but they were unable to keep their places in line, being weakened from want of food, the com missary department wagons having been lost and no rations issued since the previous Saturday.
When Haymarket was reached the knapsacks were piled in a heap and the division hurried out to Thoroughfare Gap to prevent Long- street coming through to the help of Jackson, who with more than a dozen brigades was reported to be roaming somewhere over the country east of the mountains, with several divisions of Union
CoRPOKAI. I,E\YIS W. I.ONNIN.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. (iKANT.
JOSEPH CHAMI-ION CLEMENT.
HENUY RI-AD
COMPANY 15.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 51
troops in hot pursuit. The column reached the vicinity of the Gap in the afternoon, meeting the cavalrymen retiring before the enemy, whom they reported in possession of the defile. Skirmishers were thrown out and the enemy forced back into the gorge, when the artillery opened a brisk fire upon the Gap and surrounding heights.
The brunt of the fighting was borne by Colonel Coulter's regi ment, which lost eighteen men killed and thirty-seven wounded. While Ricketts's division was forming and fighting on the eastern side of the mountain, General Lee was carefully scanning the position from the west, with Longstreet's corps rapidly arriving. Lee finally ordered a direct assault, also flanking columns to cross the heights to the right and left. However, Ricketts held the enemy in check until dark, then fell back to Haymarket, and, recovering knapsacks, the command marched to Gainesville before halting for the night, while the gray veterans of Longstreet, passing through the Gap, unknowingly bivouacked within cannon-shot of the Union division at Gainesville.
This Gap movement was a very important one, and many mili tary writers claim that Ricketts should not have allowed Longstreet to pass through to the help of Jackson. Undoubtedly this would have been a commendable act, but Ricketts would surely have been overwhelmed on the morning of the 2Qth by the twelve or thirteen brigades of infantry which were with Longstreet. As it was, Ricketts took the safest course when at dark he drew back to Gainesville, resting there until daylight, while the Confederates marched through the Gap, Jones's division on the advance, and bivouacked a short distance beyond. The Union division rested near Gainesville until daybreak ; then, supposing the enemy to be at Manassas Junction, marched to Greenwich in search of the main body of General Pope's army ; but this movement was a mistaken one, for at that hour the bulk of the army was near the stone bridge over Bull Run, which point could easily have been reached by the War- renton pike if the opposing commanders had offered no objection. However, the troops were ignorant of the situation at this time, and struck for the railroad near Bristoe, but finding no enemy, came to the Junction and halted to look around and get breath.
The division was in hard lines, officers and men being almost
52 HISTORY OF THE
famished, the soldiers eagerly searching among the abandoned camps for pieces of crackers, bones, cob-corn, or anything that would satisfy their hunger; but there wasn't a square meal in sight, and the boys had to rest content with growls and curses loud and deep against the quartermaster and his missing rations.
In the afternoon the sound of cannon was heard towards Bull Run battle-field, and to that point the head of column was directed, passing Porter's corps, which was skirmishing with the enemy in the woods. The rebs had come in a direct line from Gainesville, and had got here considerably before Ricketts's men put in an appearance. The vicinity of the stone house was reached in the evening, the command resting here till morning. Colonel Joe was now in command, Colonel McLean having been compelled to leave the regiment on the 251)1, suffering from severe illness, which incapacitated him from taking command for some time.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 53
CHAPTER IX. BULL RUN, AUGUST 30, 1862.
SATURDAY, August 30, was an extremely warm day; hot in other respects than by reason of the scorching sun to the weary soldiers who wore the blue. At the morning roll-call of the regiment scarcely 400 men answered to their names. Many had fallen out of line, some sick, others utterly played out, and of those that remained with the colors, all were so hungry, dirty, and ex hausted that they were in no condition to fight a great battle. No opportunity to wash body or clothing had been given for several weeks, and when a soldier cannot keep clean, he in a large degree loses his self-respect and confidence. In line of battle by day and marching all night, minus rations, suffering intensely with thirst and from complaints induced by drinking filthy water, the men were in a pitiable condition. Many were shoeless and with their clothing in tatters, yet they clung to the regiment with a devotion and perse verance worthy of all praise; for soldiers who, under such adverse circumstances, keep their organization and, in spite of so many dis piriting events, still present a bold front to the enemy, cannot be too strongly commended.
In the morning the division was massed on the Dogan farm, near the stone house on the Sudley Springs road, but towards noon it was sent to the right, near Kearney's famous division. Its one-armed commander was carelessly leaning on a brass cannon, and as the regiment halted quite near him, the men had an excellent oppor tunity to see this renowned soldier. Away off, a mile or more to the front and right, a small farm-house was located, around which the enemy's skirmishers were in view, and the Union cannon were throwing an occasional shot in that direction. Presently the brigade returned to its position near the stone house, and, stacking arms, lay there until the afternoon, when news came that Lee with all his army
54 HISTORY OF THE
was on the skedaddle, scooting straight to the mountains in his intense desire to escape from General Pope. A despatch to that effect was sent to Washington, and, being transmitted to the North, caused a thrill of joy in every loyal heart which was rudely dispelled a few hours later. A strong column, to be led by General McDowell, was at once formed to pursue the retreating foe, our regiment being assigned to the pursuing division, and, piling knapsacks, every prep aration was speedily made by the exultant troops for a vigorous and successful chase after Lee's army.
The stock of confidence which most of the soldiers had in the means and ability of General Pope to successfully cope with Lee had been steadily diminishing during the past few days, until it was away below zero ; but it now took a turn in the other direction, and must have attained a higher point than the thermometer regis tered, that being over a hundred in the shade. Many expressions of satisfaction were heard through the ranks, and the old saying of "having them just where we wanted them" was the favorite one used, for all trusted that our commanding general had at last out- generalled Lee and would give him a sound thrashing before he got through with him.
The head of column soon pulled out, and at a quickstep pro ceeded westward on the Sudley road ; but the leading brigades had scarcely gone over the hill before it was discovered that there was something wrong on the left of the Union army, and the way the column was about-faced and hurried over the Warrenton pike created a suspicion that mayhap the situation was after all not so bright as it had been represented.
The real state of affairs was that, instead of retreating to the moun tains, Lee was quietly massing an immense force — fifteen brigades of infantry, two of cavalry, with numerous batteries — to strike a crush ing blow on the Union left, protected by two small brigades, all unconscious of the tempest that was about to burst on them from the woods in their front. When this formidable column uncovered and advanced to the attack, the true situation of the contending forces dawned upon the minds of McDowell and Pope, and they were quick to realize their perilous position. Laying hands on all available troops, they hurried them to the threatened point, lest the John-
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 55
nies should reach the Warrenton pike and cause irreparable injury to the Union army. The 88th, with the other regiments com posing Tower's brigade, left the Sudley road a short distance east of the pike and double-quicked down a slope, over a little stream of water, and up the hill on the farther side, where, being under a heavy artillery fire, the men began to drop out wounded by the pieces of shells as they burst around the column. Under a tree near the run, Captain Fessenden, of General Tower's staff, lay mortally wounded ; he had been shot while in the performance of his duty as aide.
Upon ascending the opposite hill the brigade came in view of the Confederate cannoneers and received a withering fire from several batteries of the Washington Artillery, planted in the vicinity of the Chinn house, and presently from the Macbeth and other batteries posted on the farm near by. The regiment was rushed up the hill on the double-quick, left in front, which brought Company K in advance, and upon reaching the top the companies deployed as best they could, facing the enemy's line near the house, some two or three hundred yards distant, around which were the Confederate cannon, as before mentioned.
The confusion among the troops on the hill was great ; officers and men shouting, shells tearing through and exploding, the incessant rattle of the muskets, the cries of the wounded, — all combined made up a scene that was anything but encouraging, yet every one appeared anxious to get in the proper place to do the most good. Some sem blance of a line was soon formed, and the Confederate infantry being discovered at the foot of the hill, a rapid fusillade was at once opened, causing them to retreat in disorder.
About this time a section of artillery hastily galloped up, un- limbered, and went into battery directly in front; but no sooner had the trails touched the ground than the horses ran away with the limbers — being wounded, probably — and, dashing recklessly through the ranks, disappeared, leaving the guns with only two or three rounds of ammunition. Very soon the Confederates advanced past the farm-house in many lines of battle, extending as far as could be seen; they came on in thousands, with battle-flags well to the front and their officers urging them on, when the brigade at once opened a withering fire on them, checking their advance somewhat.
56 HISTORY OF THE
The Union cannoneers stood pluckily by their guns, and at the right time ranged their pieces and discharged them into the solid ranks of the enemy, but there being no more ammunition, the guns were useless.
All this time the cannon of the enemy were ploughing the hill with their shot, and, being so close, had excellent range, the projec tiles striking with frightful precision among the ranks of blue stand ing shoulder to shoulder on the hill. The infantry fire was also very destructive, and came from so many directions that our men were at a loss how to return it effectively. Colonel Joe, Major Gile, and the other officers did all that officers could do to keep order and hold the position, but the yells of the combatants, the noise of the bursting shells, and the agonizing screams of the wounded and dying made the place a perfect bedlam, and it was found impossible to get the com panies in order to successfully resist the Confederate brigades who were advancing, firing and yelling as they came. The officers en couraged their men to hold the position as long as possible, it being generally understood that time was required to form another line and post batteries in our rear, as this place was untenable, and the men responded bravely to their appeals, standing firmly by their colors and giving the Johnnies the best they had in the shop ; but at this critical period a heavy column appeared emerging from the woods directly on the left flank of the brigade. It was at first supposed to be part of Pope's forces, but when these troops opened an en filading fire that cut across and through our ranks, their true char acter was revealed. This flanking force was Jones's Confederate division, the troops in our front being Hood's division, assisted by Evans's brigade and Anderson's and Kemper's divisions. The bat tered battalions on the hill at once refused their left to meet this attack, seven companies of the 94th New York taking the extreme left, and in executing this movement the 88th naturally gave ground a little in front. Colonel Joe, seeing the line wavering, rallied the regiment around the colors, and about this time received a terrible wound in the thigh. Being unable to control his horse, it started to run away as the colonel fell from the saddle ; but Lieutenant Ran- nels, of the 75th Ohio, caught the horse, and, with the assistance of some of the members of the 88th, carried the colonel back a short
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS, 57
distance, when he was again struck and died on the field. His last words were, " I die for my country and the old flag." Many other officers of the regiment had already been disabled, among them Captain Belsterling, of Company C, killed at the head of his com mand. Captains Wagner and Stretch, Lieutenants Street and Pat terson, Adjutant Fairlamb, with many other officers and men, were wounded. General Tower was carried off the field badly wounded, subsequently losing a leg by amputation.
There were many individual acts of personal daring and bravery exhibited by the men of the 88th Regiment as they fought singly and by squads, but where so many may justly claim recognition, it would be invidious to select one or more for especial mention ; how ever, the many proficient rifle-shots in the battalion had abundant opportunity to exercise their skill in this direction, and the mortality among the Confederate officers attested their success. Colonel Means, of the zyth, and Colonel Gadbury, of the i8th South Caro lina Regiment, were killed directly in our front, the last-named officer just about the time the Union line was breaking.
The Federal troops, notwithstanding their desperate resistance, were being slowly but surely forced back. The men in the front rank would fire, then fall to the rear to force another cartridge down their heated and befouled rifles, but by the time they were loaded would be in the front again, the rear rank having performed the same movement. The enemy was returning this salute with interest, aided by superior numbers and a concentric fire, and the ground was thickly strewn with the dead and badly wounded, while the rear pre sented a woful mass of wounded soldiers and the inevitable strag glers, who, taking advantage of the confusion, were making lively tracks for the rear. But this unequal contest could not last long. The rebels were advancing in admirable order in heavy masses, brigade following brigade, the front line firing as they came, the white puffs of smoke rolling along their front in fleecy clouds some times obscuring their lines; but they swept on, up the hill, by the guns, and as their converging lines closed in, the Union troops scat tered and retreated to the Sudley road, leaving Bald Hill in possession of the Confederates. While falling back, re-enforcements from Sigel's corps were met coming up, massed in column of division and step-
58 HISTORY OF THE
ping as quietly as if on parade ; these men checked the foe long enough to allow the shattered remnants of Tower's brigade to rally on the Henry House hill north of the Springs road, at which place the Confederate advance was stopped. The greater part of Long- street's men bivouacked that night on the Chinn farm, being so terribly shattered that they were in no condition to attempt more.
After rallying on the hill and along the pike, and repulsing a charge of the enemy, the Union forces, under cover of the night, with sad hearts and weary feet, marched back to Centreville. The army had been defeated, though the men felt that they had done all that good soldiers could do, and no stain of dishonor rested on their fair name for this day's sad work, but all felt mortified and sick at heart when they thought of their suffering comrades left weltering in blood on the disastrous field of battle.
The loss of Colonel Joe and Captain Belsterling and the wounding of so many efficient officers of the regiment was the beginning of a similar experience that lasted during the entire war. General Tower's wound resulted in the loss of a leg and incapacitated him from further field service during the war. He was a good officer, a strict disciplinarian, and would undoubtedly have attained high command in the service, though not very popular with the boys. But the degree of an officer's popularity with the soldiers was no gauge of his proficiency as a commanding officer ; there was no more unpopular officer in the army than General McDowell, but subsequent light upon his character and motives conclusively proves that no more unselfish or patriotic general or purer gentleman wore the stars of a Union officer. All the misfortunes and disasters, short rations, hard marches, and abortive movements were blamed on McDowell. He was constantly accused of being drunk, yet the most positive proof is adduced that he had never taken a glass of liquor in his life. The peculiar bamboo hat he wore was supposed to be a signal for the enemy not to fire upon him, and more of the same stuff was firmly engrafted on the minds of the men. General McDowell is dead and beyond the range of praise or blame, but these cruel slanders were borne by him in silence, and it is due to his memory that his record be truthfully told, even at this late day.
The official report of the loss in Tower's command is given below.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 59
The figures are in some cases not correct, as the loss in the 88th in killed was twenty-eight, instead of twelve, as given in the official tables. Some of the mortally wounded may have been simply classified among the wounded, and many of those marked missing were afterwards known to have been killed. The list of killed is corrected; but the totals are the same as in volume xii., Part 2, "Official Records of the War," as published by the United States government.
CASUALTIES IN TOWER* S BRIGADE, AUGUST 1 6 TO SEPTEMBER 2, 1862.
Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total. Brigade staff i . . . . I
26th New York 26 106 37 169
94th New York 21 Si 45 147
88th Pennsylvania 28 85 48 161
90th Pennsylvania 7 49 162 218
Total "83 3~2l 292 696
HARTSUFF'S BRIGADE.
Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total.
1 2th Massachusetts 13 61 64 138
1 3th Massachusetts 20 105 65 190
9th New York State Militia . . . 10 25 48 83
1 1 th Pennsylvania 44 "4 24^
Total "87 305 265 657
The loss in Tower's brigade was the greatest of any brigade in the army in the battle of the 3oth.
There is an old saying that misery loves company, and it may console some of these defeated soldiers to know that their opponents suffered as severely as themselves. From the official rebel reports we know how terribly they suffered, life being no consideration with their leaders when they wanted to carry a position.
Anderson's brigade reports a loss of over 800; Evan's, 734; and Hood's Texans, 638. The lyth South Carolina lost 189 out of 284 engaged; the 23d South Carolina, 152 out of 225; and the iyth Georgia, 101 out of 200 carried into action.
The 88th Regiment never recovered from the effects of this dis astrous battle, and the loss sustained by it, as shown in the ghastly list of killed and crippled officers and men, very seriously impaired its efficiency in future campaigns, their absence being very keenly felt.
60 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTER X.
A PILGRIMAGE TO BULL RUN.
IN the fall of 1885 the writer visited this region, made famous by the fierce battles fought here in 1861 and 1862. At Alexandria but little change in the appearance of the city since war times was noticed. The Marshall House has been altered into a dry- goods store and the slave-pen into dwelling-houses, but most of the old residences are precisely as they were during the war. A few miles below Alexandria a new city has been laid out, called New Alex andria, which bids fair to rival the city of " ye ancient tyme."
Most of the immense chain of forts that surrounded Alexandria and Washington have disappeared, but a few still stand in bold out line against the sky, among these being Fort Ellsworth, just outside of Alexandria, where Companies B and F, of the 88th, were stationed in 1861. This fort is in an excellent state of preservation, the para pet and embrasures for the cannon being clearly defined ; but where the ranks of the armed garrison were once dressed birds have taken possession, and sweep in peaceful troops through the places where the big black dogs of war once thrust their threatening muzzles.
A few miles from Alexandria I noticed the ruins of Cloud's Mills, and off to the right the cupola of Fairfax Seminary is still standing. Along the railroad the conductor calls Springfield, Union Mills, Bull Run, — all familiar names, bringing up a flood of memo ries of the days when we wore the blue and marched wearily over these dusty roads that seemed never so long to nowhere. At Bull Run the stream was muddy from a recent rain, and across the bridge, where General Taylor's Jersey brigade was overwhelmed and repulsed by Jackson's command, the country had an old-time look.
A mile or so north of the Junction are the embankments of one of Beauregard's forts, and a mile west of the Junction is another well-
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 61
kept fort ; but all the rest have gone, with the gray regiments that once defended them, never to return.
The distance from the Junction to the stone house on the Warren- ton pike is about six miles, over an excellent dirt road, flanked part of the way by a neat wire fence. Upon reaching the vicinity of the battle-field the topography of the country changes, and, in place of the plains near the Junction, the ground is broken and hilly, mostly covered by a heavy growth of timber.
Off to the northwest the blue outlines of the Bull Run Mountains are in view, and, looking down the distant range, the sloping of the crest indicates the location of Thoroughfare Gap, where, on the afternoon of August 28, 1862, Ricketts's division drove the skir mishers of Longstreet's advance back through the gorge.
The Warrenton and Alexandria pike runs through the centre of the battle-field, and Young's Branch, a tributary of Bull Run, crosses the road several times, and at the stone house at the intersection of the Sudley road it branches, one fork continuing along the pike past the Dogan farm, the other from the spring on the Chinn farm, south of the Bald Hill range. Straight down the pike, through Warrenton, about twenty-five miles distant, is the Rappahannock River, and, as has been before related, along the banks of this stream, as a line of defence, General Pope successfully held the Con federate army from August 20 to 25, in compliance with the request of General Halleck, on the 2ist, to hold on " forty-eight hours longer and we can make you strong enough." Pope carried out his part of the contract, but how lamentably some one else failed is matter of his tory. He had every assurance that his communications would be effectually guarded by heavy re-enforcements from the Army of the Potomac via the Orange and Alexandria Railroad ; but this illusion was rudely dispelled when, on the 26th of August, the ubiquitous Jackson with his hungry legions, marching through Thoroughfare Gap, fell like a thunderbolt upon the Union stores at Manassas Junc tion. General Pope was loath to believe that this was more than an irruption by some of Stuart's redoubtable cavalry, and to say that he was intensely chagrined when he discovered the true state of affairs is putting it mildly ; but he at once ordered all his troops to the Junc tion to catch Jackson and "bag the whole crowd !" Jackson, how-
62 HISTORY OF THE
ever, was not the man to be caught in that way, and, burning what he couldn't carry, he marched his men over Bull Run to Centreville, and then back again to near Sudley Church, the soldiers in his ranks feeling that they had done a big thing and were on top, while the soldiers in Pope's army felt conscious that somebody had blundered, and were fast losing what little confidence they had in one or two of their generals.
Jackson planted himself near the Warrenton pike on the 27th, and, forming his battalions in battle array, waited either the attack of the Federals or the arrival of Lee with the rest of the army.
On the afternoon of the 28th, while Ricketts was disputing with Longstreet at the Gap, the division of General King came marching up the Warrenton pike, bound for Centreville, when Jackson at once pounced upon them, expecting an easy victory over the bewildered regiments ; but these were troops unaccustomed to retreat, and Doubleday and Gibbon, who commanded the two brigades assailed, turned so fiercely on the five or six brigades that Jackson launched upon them that they were glad to take their hands oft" and let the Union forces go in peace.
Finally, the bagging process having proved a failure, the scattered and wearied divisions of the Union army were concentrated in proximity to the stone house on the 29th, and on the 30th was fought the second battle of Bull Run, on almost the identical ground where McDowell and Beauregard fought the first battle in July, 1861. There was some severe fighting near Groveton on the 29th, but nothing decisive was achieved on either side, and both armies drew off and dressed their lines for the great battle of the 3oth.
Military men who are competent to judge say that Pope's true policy would have been to fall back to the line of Bull Run and maintain that line until the Army of the Potomac came up. Proba bly it was the wise thing to do ; but General Pope was not the man to run away from an enemy until he was compelled to, and he stayed as long as he could and fought his army as best he could, though we now see that he labored under an entirely wrong idea of the situa tion, and though his soldiers fought never so bravely, it was all in vain.
We will now describe the battle, and to understand the situation
o s
* 1C
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and Sooa cru-sVxccL N\c. Utart c^vxd-JXndl^^Aovv^ tKtvu
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1 "> UNION • • CONrCOtAATI
BULL RUN, Auoi'ST 30, 1862.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 63
in the early afternoon of August 30 we will stand at the stone house, at the corner of the Springs road and the pike, and locate the troops of both armies. First the Confederates. About two miles straight down the pike they were formed in line of battle, Longstreet, with fif teen brigades, many batteries of artillery, and Stuart's cavalry, being posted mainly on the south side of the pike, and Jackson on the north side, along an old railroad grading, with fourteen brigades of infantry and a number of batteries, to hold the position chosen for a good defence. In round figures, Longstreet had a compact force, well in hand, of upward of 30,000 men ; Jackson's command num bered over 26,000; Stuart had three brigades of cavalry; while the artillery amounted to about 4000 more, distributed among both wings of the army, — a well-seasoned army, flushed with conscious strength, composed of over 65,000 good soldiers, who believed that "Uncle Bob" and " Old Stonewall" could lead them anywhere.
We will now turn to the Union line and note the strength and location of each corps and division, standing, as before stated, at the stone house, looking down the pike towards the Confederate position. Reynolds, with the Pennsylvania Reserves, a little over 4000 strong, had been posted near Bald Hill and the Chinn farm, to our left oblique, but about three o'clock these troops were ordered to the right of the pike by the commanding general, to assist Porter's attack. This left only Warren's "brigade of two regiments of zouaves and McLean's brigade of Sigel's corps on the left of the pike to withstand the shock of Longstreet's immense force when it got ready to move.
A. mile or so out the pike Porter's corps was assaulting the rebel lines. Porter had, including Warren, about 8000 men in line. He was to the right of the pike, and to his right Hatch's division charged Jackson in conjunction with Porter. Then following to the right came Hooker, then Kearney, and two brigades of Ricketts's division on the extreme right. The 9th Corps was back of Hooker, and Sigel was on the Dogan farm, a half mile in rear of Porter. Tower's and Hartsuff 's brigades of Ricketts's division were near the stone house on our right, but will be presently hurried to the left on Bald Hill to face Longstreet. To recapitulate the Union strength : Sigel numbered in line of battle barely 9000 men; McDowell,
64 HISTORY OF THE
10,000; Reynolds, nearly 5000; Sturgis, 2000; Heintzelman, 8000 ; Porter, 8000 ; Qth Corps, 8000 ; the cavalry 2000, and artil lery 3000, — in all, not 55,000 men, ill fed, weary, and falsely posted to fight a defensive battle, the advantage in everything being with the Southerners, who, understanding the situation, had a sure thing on the result.
The reason why the Union force was so badly posted to resist an attack was because General Pope conceived the idea that Lee was on the skedaddle, and he was arranging his columns for an immedi ate and fierce pursuit, when nothing was further from Lee's thoughts. General Reynolds knew that Lee contemplated an attack, as did also Sigel and Porter, and finally McDowell and Pope ; but the storm had burst and it was too late then to get under shelter.
The battle t>egan about three o'clock P.M., Porter, by Pope's orders, attacking along the pike, and the battle being quickly taken up by the troops on Porter's right, until it raged along the whole line; but the Union troops were repulsed, though the attack was handsomely made and gallantly sustained.
The Confederates had massed several batteries at Groveton, and when Porter's men exposed their flank in their advance, these guns gave them a terrible raking from the left, which cut through their Cranks like a cyclone. No troops could stand long against such an unmerciful pelting of cannon-balls on the flank and musket-balls in front, and they were forced to fall back, after suffering an appalling loss in killed and wounded.
Seeing the Union repulse, Longstreet's eager brigades were called up and let loose on the unprotected Union left. They swept along I both sides of the pike, running over Warren's red-legged soldiers and V bringing square up against McLean's Ohio brigade, Koltes's brigade, Anderson's brigade of Pennsylvanians, and Hartsuff's and Tower's brigades of Ricketts's division, all having been double-quicked to the south of the pike at the time that Longstreet's graybacks un covered and made concealment no longer necessary. These bri gades presented a broken and disconnected, though stubborn, front to the enemy's advance, and delayed it long enongh to enable the Pennsylvania Reserves, the regulars, and other troops to establish a line on the Henry house hill, thus effectually checking Longstreet's
euw
tfc*
ttt vi
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 65
advance in that direction. Milroy's brigade formed along the Sud- ley road and held its position against repeated assaults until dark, when all the Union troops had been forced back to this point.
On the right, with Hooker and Kearney and Reno, the battle had not fared so badly ; but when the left gave way the right was com pelled to fall back also, prolonging the line along the Sudley road until dark, when the entire army, save the dead and badly wounded, fell back to Centreville.
There has been but little change in the appearance of the country since, and the scene of the battle was easily recognized ; the stone house is still at the corner, the Henry house is on the hill, while the Chinn house and Dogan house are in plain view from the Henry house hill. Bald Hill, where Tower's and Hartsuff's brigades made their gallant and hopeless fight, is now called Battery Hill by the natives, and the wood on the left where Longstreet advanced on the flank is still there, though no treacherous foe lurks in its dark shadows.
I drove to the Chinn farm and stood where the Washington Artillery went into battery and raked the troops along Bald Hill. In the yard of the Henry house a rough monument of undressed stone was erected in war times to the memory of those who died hard by, and near Groveton is a like monument, but both were sadly in need of repairs and threatening to topple over on account of the settling of the foundations.
The losses of both armies from August 16 to September 2 are officially reported as follows :
UNION LOSS.
Army of Virginia ................... 8,105
Army of the Potomac ................. 4»728
9th Corps ...................... !>523
Kanawha division .................. IQ6
Total
CONFEDERATE LOSS.
Longstreet's corps .................. 4»5°°
Jackson's corps ................... 4>532
Cavalry and artillery ................. 8o°
Total ...................... 9,832
5
66 HISTORY OF THE
In connection with the map of Bull Run, the following extract from Alfred Davenport, historian of the 5th New York, is submitted :
Your map is as near right, in my opinion, as can well be ; it is impossible to place the ever-varying positions of troops in a battle in stationary attitudes like chessmen. Warren's brigade only took up a front of about a regiment ; you might have made its line shorter and put the left in the woods. The 5th Texas envel oped our left; the Hampton Legion our front; the i8ih Georgia overlapped our right; then came the 4th and ist Texas. . . . We saw the whole of Reynolds's division march in front of us and over to the right, before Warren saw the neces sity of advancing to take its place. I think Jackson's (Anderson's) brigade was caught on the tail end before it joined the other two north of the pike ; it must have been near the pike, just south of it, and when McLean moved to Bald Kidge, it (Jackson) was in advance of and to his right. McLean says, " We could at this time see the rebels driving before them a regiment of zouaves on our front and a little to our right."
The Texas brigade was driving us, and it was they who captured Kerns's bat tery, supported by Jackson.
ALFRED DAVENPORT.
NEW YORK, May n, 1894.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 67
CHAPTER XI.
CHANTILLY TO SOUTH MOUNTAIN, AUGUST 3! TO SEPTEMBER 15,
1862.
THE night march to Centreville was a dismal one. All along the road, in the darkness and gloom, the commanders tried to collect their men, and the hoarse cries of " This way for Tower's brigade," "Fall in, 88th," resounded through the cheerless night. Colonel Christian, of the 26th New York, with the brigade flag, halted before reaching Centreville, and by daybreak the remnants of the regiments were mostly with their colors. Sunday morning, the 3ist, brought a chilling rain upon friend and foe, adding greatly to the sufferings of the wounded men lying in helpless agony, with shattered bones and putrid wounds, upon the red field they had so heroically battled to win. Some were carried to hastily-equipped hospitals, but the greater part lay for days upon the damp ground, exposed to sun and rain, with no water or food ; their running wounds undressed, blown by flies and alive with maggots, they were literally rotting in their misery and helplessness.
On Sunday morning it was fully expected that Lee would follow up his victory by at once attacking our dispirited troops, a rumor being circulated that the enemy was coming up the pike in battle array, and the brigade fell into line, batteries were planted, and line of battle formed to meet the expected attack. Notwithstanding the defeat they had suffered, the soldiers appeared to revive won derfully at the prospect of another battle^! every man taking his posi tion with alacrity and spirit, and if an attack had been made the enemy would undoubtedly have been given a warm reception. All day long many hundreds of conveyances of every description passed by slowly towards Washington, freighted with the wounded brought in from the battle-field.
On the morning of September i it was ascertained that the enemy
68 HISTORY OF THE
was moving to the right, consequently we were compelled to fall back towards Fairfax. While on the retrograde heavy firing was heard in the direction of Chantilly, and the division was double- quicked to that place, forming line in the edge of the woods, with a field in front and another belt of timber about 300 yards distant. The skirmishers were popping away beyond the woods, but no enemy appeared in our front. While standing in the rain and mud, a staff officer rode slowly along the line and quietly exhorted the men to make a good fight. "If we are defeated, I fear for Washington," he said. Under this earnest plea, and understanding the importance of making a firm stand, the men braced up, resolving to win a vic tory or die where they were.
All this dreary, cheerless night the men stood or sat as best they could in line of battle, soaked and benumbed by the chilling rain, without shelter, minus blankets or any protection from the pitiless storm, and probably more men were lost to the regiment from this night's exposure than would have been from a battle. The brigade remained in this position until the afternoon of the 2d, then moving off, halted at dusk at Hall's Hill to rest a while from the labors of this never-to-be-forgotten campaign.
The following table, taken from the morning reports, shows the strength of the regiment on the dates indicated :
Aug. 17, 1862. Sept. 5, 1862.
Commissioned officers for duty 24 14
Non-commissioned officers for duty 95 67
Privates for duty 446 263
Total for duty 565 344
Total present 637 415
These reports show a regimental loss of 221 men, from all causes, between the dates mentioned ; of these, 175 were disabled in action, leaving about fifty whose services were lost to the regiment by sick ness and straggling, nearly all being attributable to disease. The next two or three days were spent in trying to clean up and get in good condition ; but, as no clothing was issued, it was difficult to improve our personal appearance except by the plentiful application of soap and water, which was industriously applied by the men.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 69
The camp had scarcely been formed and the guns stacked, before the hawk-eyed sutler swept down on the bivouac like a bird of prey, and such a rush by the famished soldiers would be difficult to describe ; though the prices were away up, the Shylocks quickly disposed of all their goods at a tremendous profit. Everything was a dollar : canned goods, a pound of cheese, a plug of tobacco,— everything brought the " almighty dollar," and the boys esteemed it a privilege to be swindled by the sharpers.
Then came the newsboy with an immense pack of Philadelphia Inquirers slung over the neck of his horse, selling them for ten cents each as fast as he could whip them off his bundle. The soldiers were hungry for news ; though they had been on the war-path for a month, they knew comparatively very little of what had been done, and could only form an intelligent opinion by reading the news papers. •
The mail messenger also put in an appearance and distributed the letters, the first mail received since the 2oth of August. A very sad phase of this was the letters for comrades who had been killed in battle. These were carefully and sadly returned to the writers, with an account of the fate and possibly the last word or some token of the dead soldier.
The time given for rest and reorganization at Hall's Hill was short, for on the evening of Saturday, September 5, the general sounded "pack up," and in an hour the column headed for the river ; the Army of the Potomac was again on the move. The route was through the viaduct bridge across the Potomac, through George town to Washington, and out Seventh Street to the Maryland line. The city had gone to sleep when our part of the line passed through, and the men marched along in silence ; indeed, it is doubtful if the people of Washington knew that the army was passing. All night long the march was continued, until a halt was made near Crystal Springs, and the men rested until Tuesday, the pth, when the march was resumed until the twelve-mile stone was reached, at which place the corps again bivouacked in the beautiful fields of this fair country, that seemed flowing with milk and honey. The corn was in prime condition for roasting and the fruit-trees hung heavily laden with their ripening clusters ; still, there was but little foraging
70 HISTORY OF THE
done, except probably by the coffee-coolers, who had the faculty of knowing where the fattest pickings could be procured, while the faithful soldier plodded patiently in the ranks. The loyal surroundings caused a marked revolution in the feelings and expressions of the rank and file, who heartily enjoyed the warm welcome given by the patri otic people in the little towns along the route, and the sight of citizens waving Union flags would bring an outburst of lusty hurrahs from the soldiers as, with lightened step, they went marching on, singing ''We'll rally round the flag, boys," or some other favorite song.
The march was resumed on September n, the villages of Mechan- icsville and Brookville being passed and camp made beyond Cooks- ville. The people all along the road expressed the greatest surprise at the number of men passing, saying they never thought there were that many men in the whole country.
On the 1 2th the column passed through Lisbon and Poplar Springs, and the next day New Market and Liberty, halting near the thrifty little city of Frederick. The Confederates had been in this region, and the citizens were more than glad to see the honest faces of Uncle Sam's boys again, and gave them a loyal reception, which was heartily responded to by the boys in the form of many hurrahs and patriotic songs as they went marching on.
On Sunday, September 14, the brigade pushed on after the enemy, but, to the disappointment of the men, the 88th was detailed with the train as a reserve. Early in the afternoon the sounds of battle beyond the mountain became very distinct, the citizens taking the keenest interest; those having horses excitedly rode to and fro, anxious for information and a sight of the conflict. These old hills had never before been stirred with the roar and rumble of opposing cannon, and it was a great day for the people. Late in the after noon an aide came for Major Gile, with orders to report to the brigade at once, and the march was quickly resumed ; passing through Middletown, we were soon swinging away to the battle, a dozen miles off.
Upon crossing the Catoctin and nearing the contested field, it became dark, and after groping around a while it was deemed ad visable by Major Gile to halt and wait for morning, it being evident that the fight was over, as only an occasional flash and report could
ALFRED DUNRAR EHMKNTROUT.
HENRY N. KUHN.
LIEUTENANT SAMUEL G. BOONE.
JONATHAN L. WENTZEL. COKPOKAI. ('.EOK<;E W. (IAYI.OKD.
COiMPANV B.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 71
be seen and heard. The major formed the companies in line of battle and rested, but at the first glimmering ray of light the regi ment fell in, and, marching down the valley and up the hill, past a little church where the wounded not only occupied the building but lay thickly on the ground outside, soon reached the brigade, the men resting on their arms and in line of battle, occupying the contested field ; the enemy had been driven up the rough and broken side of the mountain the previous afternoon, and during the night had with drawn his shattered battalions, leaving the field in possession of the Union army. This is one of the few contests of the war which the Confederates did not claim as a victory, their defeat being so decisive that no room was left for them to claim any sort of a triumph. As the regiment marched up the steep sides of the mountain and exam ined the commanding position the enemy had occupied, the difficul ties the troops had encountered were fully seen, and much praise was accorded Ricketts's division for so successful an assault. Dead and wounded Confederates lay around everywhere, many yet lying where they had fought, while the buildings in the Gap and vicinity were full of the wounded and dying, abandoned to their fate.
The 88th does not claim a very active part in the battle of South Mountain ; but it was in close proximity to the field in the perform ance of its duty, and if not called upon it was through no fault of the regiment. However, what the boys lost here in experience was more than made up a day or two later at Antietam Creek.
On Monday, September 15, the brigade joined in the pursuit of the enemy, passing through the loyal village of Boonsborough, a mile or two west of the mountain, where the grateful and patriotic people received our soldiers as deliverers, showing by a free display of the stars and stripes and in other unmistakable ways how happy they were to see the blue-coats again. In the distance, over the trees, the smoke of the batteries which had overtaken the enemy was visi ble, and the rumble and roar of the cannon echoed along the moun tain, causing the blood to beat faster in the veins of the soldiers in that hurrying column, as they pressed forward to the position held by the enemy, and perhaps somewhat nervously speculated upon their chances of filling a soldier's grave in the coming battle. When Keedysville was reached a halt was made, the men scatter-
72 HISTORY OF THE
ing along the roadside, resting ; while lying here a great commo tion was noticed down the rear of the column, the men throwing up their caps and cheering with a spirit which indicated that some distinguished person was approaching. Soon a brilliant cavalcade came trotting along, — the commander-in-chief and his numerous escort, — and as the men recognized the general they all rose with the most frantic demonstrations of delight, shouting "McClellan, McClellan is coming ! hurrah for McClellan !" until they appeared more like a crowd of boys than the staid and weary soldiers of a few minutes before, and this noisy reception continued until the general passed by.
Whatever may have been the merits of General McClellan as a successful commander, there can be no question of the confidence that the soldiers reposed in him, which found expression in the most enthusiastic receptions whenever he rode along the lines. Prob ably much of this feeling could be traced to an intense desire to have some one capable of successfully leading them against the rebels, the failures of Pope and McDowell's disastrous campaign in Virginia having greatly discouraged the soldiers, who, confident in their own power, felt that there was gross mismanagement some where, or they would never have been defeated in that humiliating movement; and the presence of McClellan had a perceptible effect in restoring that confidence so essential to success in an army of thinking soldiers.
" Fighting Joe Hooker," as he was familiarly called (another gen eral who occupied a big place in the soldiers' hearts), commanded the corps, General Ricketts led the division, and Colonel Christian, of the 26th New York, temporarily had charge of the brigade. The 88th had about 350 men present, the other regiments of the brigade being probably a little stronger. The division rested near the creek on the night of the 1510, and on the following afternoon advanced to feel for the enemy on the other side.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 73
CHAPTER XII. ANTIETAM: SEPTEMBER 16 TO 18, 1862.
ANTIETAM CREEK was crossed on the afternoon of September 16 (Tuesday) ; then the brigades, breaking into column, ready to form line of battle, with skirmishers well to the front and closely sup ported by the artillery, moved slowly forward to find the enemy. Very soon the sharp crack of the rifles indicated that the Johnnies were on hand ; then the artillery, galloping up, went into battery, shelling the woods to develop the enemy's position. The Southern troops were steadily pressed back until dusk, when our advance reached their line of battle, their cannon opening a lively fire, to which the Union cannoneers very promptly responded. The bri gade was massed directly in the rear of our cannon and received the full benefit of the enemy's fire, shell bursting all around; but the men of the command behaved with admirable coolness, no flinching being anywhere noticed, though the fragments from the enemy's projectiles were cutting the air and sward in every direction.
The pall of night had fallen over the scene, hiding friend and foe, but the artillerymen on both sides did not appear to be satisfied and still kept industriously at work. Every time a piece was dis charged the flash of the gun illuminated the surroundings, producing an effect similar to that of sheet-lightning ; and when the other fellows sent their howling compliments back, the flash from their exploding shell fitfully lit up the ranks, and the broken particles went buzzing around in search of victims.
Presently the cannonading ceased and the brigade moved up to take position for the morning's work. The night was exceedingly dark, but all went well until the woods were reached, when the dark ness became so impenetrable that it was impossible to know where to go, the men being compelled to clutch one another by the cloth ing or bayonet scabbard to keep together. Groping around in the
74 HISTORY OF THE
gloom and in the utmost silence, the line was advanced, expecting every moment to get a volley from the enemy ; but the position was reached at last, very much to the relief of the soldiers, who did not relish this stumbling around through the timber in the dark. Then the supperless men lay on the ground to rest until morning, though the vigilant pickets occasionally disturbed their uneasy slumbers by a scattering volley, mayhap to let us know that they were attend ing to business. What each individual soldier's thoughts were this eventful night, on the eve of battle, will never be known ; but there was no trifling or jesting, a deeply solemn feeling entering the soul of every man as he thought of the chances for entering eternity on the morrow.
At the first blush of dawn on the iyth the order to fall in was quickly passed along the lines, and simultaneously the battle opened beyond the woods, a couple of hundred yards to the front. There was no time for breakfast or to refill canteens, not even opportu nity to brush the dirt from the soiled uniforms; but forming at once in column of division, with the other regiments of the brigade on the flanks, the battalion moved forward to the place assigned it.
If the brigade had been taken into Bull Run like a mob, it was evident that that error was not to be repeated here ; but to the anxious men in the ranks it seemed that an unnecessary amount of drilling was performed. The stentorian voice of Major Gile was heard above the tumult of battle, giving the commands in quick succession: "Forward, guide centre," then "By the right flank," followed by "Forward" again, the shells from the enemy's cannon meanwhile shrieking and flying all around, striking the ground in a wicked manner and throwing up the dirt and dust in great clouds as high as the trees. The hideous noise made by these projectiles as they screamed through the air was indescribable ; it appeared to the blue masses in that advancing host as if all the devils infernal had been incarnated and assembled on this horrible field, with power to make the most terrible noises that were ever heard. At any rate, the appalling sound caused by these missiles was enough to terrify the heart of the bravest and cause the blood to chill in one's veins; and as the enemy had good range, the shells flew and fell and burst all over the field, as some of the boys had it, in a very reckless manner.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 75
As the shells, striking the ground, ricocheted or exploded as they struck, the hot fragments flew around in every direction, or when a fuse shell burst overhead the impinging pieces carried destruction and havoc in the ranks underneath. Many of these projectiles exploded with fatal effect, killing and wounding a number of our men before they had an opportunity to fire a shot ; but the ranks closed up, not a man wavering or leaving his place without orders, and the brigade moved quietly forward, all the time subject to this horrible tempest of iron, the wounded limping painfully and slowly to the rear, but the survivors setting their faces resolutely towards the enemy. A growth of heavy timber known as the East Woods was soon reached and a brief halt ordered, the bullets meanwhile droning and zipping merrily around ; but no very great damage was done, except by the artillery fire, which was still terribly effective.
About this time it was reported that the enemy was massing in our front, and as the front line was almost out of ammunition, it was decided to send us in, and Major Gile rang out, "Attention, 88th. On first division deploy column, march. Forward, guide centre. Halt. Commence firing," and the boys were in the fight. Five minutes before more than one man in that battalion would have been two hundred miles away from this unhealthy place, if wishing could have accomplished it ; but now, excited by the maddening tumult of battle and encouraged by the acts and presence of comrades, all sense of personal fear fled, the surroundings making every man as brave as a Trojan, forgetful of all personal danger, and intent only upon inflicting all possible damage upon the enemy.
Directly in front and to the right of the regiment was an immense cornfield occupied by the enemy, to whom the men sent their leaden compliments as fast as they could load and fire, the graybacks doing the same favor in return. A burning barn was fiercely blazing a little to the left, while to the right heavy lines of the enemy were in sight, apparently bearing heavily on the regiments farther to the right. The Confederates in the immediate front of the regiment were mostly concealed, and it was extremely difficult to get a fair shot at them, but their fire told very severely on the ranks of the com mand, the men dropping like autumn leaves in a storm. During this tempest of missiles, while our regimental colors were unfurled well to
76 HISTORY OF THE
the front, a projectile from a Confederate gun came tearing and rip ping through the trees, cutting off a large limb, which, falling upon Company I, killed and disabled several men.
Though the men were in the best of spirits and felt competent to hold the line, yet our casualties were exceedingly heavy in killed and wounded, among the latter, Major Gile, Captain Carmack, and Lieutenants Steeples, Wingate, Wamsley, and Quimby. More than one-fourth of the troops that went into action were disabled, but the remnant stood by the colors, loading and firing as if it were an every-day occurrence. There appeared to be no especial com mands given, every man using his own judgment and putting his shots where they would do the most good. After holding this posi tion for a considerable time, word was passed along the line that the regiments on the flanks had expended all their ammunition and it would be necessary for the entire line to withdraw, so that other troops could take the position ; accordingly, the order was given to fall back, though no enemy was advancing. Very reluctantly the soldiers obeyed, but many lingered to get an extra shot or two after the organization had moved back through the woods.
Upon passing to the rear, numbers of our wounded were seen and assisted to the improvised hospitals, many of them being horribly mutilated, among whom was Lorenzo Wilson, of Company K, whose leg had been so badly lacerated that it appeared to be hanging by the skin only. In reply to an inquiry, he quietly pointed to his dangling leg and said, " Boys, I've got it."
The regiment was rallied and reformed in the rear, and, moving to the right, lay in reserve, supporting batteries, while other troops, taking our place in the front, continued the battle the rest of the day ; but Ricketts's division had been so severely handled that its aggressive power was seriously impaired. The regiment lay in this position until nightfall, listening to the roar and rattle of the con test in front as the lines charged and countercharged ; sometimes the noise would gradually recede as the Federals drove the Con federates, the hearty and manly Union huzzas rising above the din ; but again the firing would draw alarmingly near, and the shrill rebel yell of " Ki yi, ki yi yi" rose sharp and clear as our men were forced back.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 77
When the mantle of night covered this sanguinary field the firing ceased, and all was still except the pitiful cries and moans from thousands of wounded arid dying men, who, writhing in dirt and blood, tortured by a consuming feverish thirst, broke the solemn stillness of the night by their plaintive cries and agonizing shrieks for aid, though the ambulance corps and medical department assidu ously gleaned the fields for the ghastly harvest, tenderly caring for all that could be found.
The dull gray light of Thursday morning broke upon the exhausted armies as they lay in line of battle, each waiting for the other to take the initiative, but no forward movement was made. In the light of subsequent events it is almost certain that if the Union army had advanced on the i8th the Confederates would have been taken at great disadvantage and very likely utterly defeated, as the information afterwards gleaned from the inhabitants within their lines represented them as badly demoralized, with the roads lined with graybacks actively "dusting" towards Old Virginia again, every straggler intent only on getting out of the way of the Yanks. But no aggressive move was made, the least indication of an advance being promptly met by a sharp fire from the enemy's skirmishers, his main body meanwhile preparing for a general retreat the coming night.
To add to the discomfort, intermittent showers descended, drench ing the men, who had no opportunity of erecting the little shelter tents as a partial protection from the elements. The roll was now called and the loss noted, the result indicating that there were pres ent in line, —
Commissioned officers . . , 7
Non-commissioned officers 3&
Privates 164
Total 209
The aggregate present, including sick, details, musicians, etc., num bered 272; the aggregate present at the last report before the fight was 415, leaving a clear loss of 143; but many of these were sick and some had temporarily joined the grand army of coffee-coolers,
78 HISTORY OF THE
the actual loss in the engagement being about eighteen killed and sixty wounded.
The report for September 26 aggregated 316 present, showing that the irrepressible stragglers had regained enough confidence to hunt their rations if they had no stomach to hunt the enemy, and that many worthy soldiers who had been compelled to fall out by sickness and exhaustion had so far recovered as to be able to take their places again in the ranks.
On the 1 8th rations were issued, the first for several days, including some green coffee, which the men roasted in their tins, crushing the berries as best they could. One group of grinders had im provised a cracker-box and a huge elongated shell for duty as a coffee-mill, and were doing a brisk business in ground coffee, when a red-edged artilleryman passing by examined the shell, and in formed the astonished grinders that it was primed with a perfect percussion-cap, which needed but a slight blow to explode it. Busi ness in that shop was suspended without further ceremony.
Details were made from the companies to bury those who had been killed in line. A shallow grave was dug and the soldier, wrapped in his blood-soaked blanket, carefully deposited therein, a piece of cracker-box or some other frail marker serving as a head board. The following is a fair sample of many that marked these graves :
JESSE TYSON. Co. I. 88. Regt. 1'enna. Vols.
Killed Sept. 17. 1862.
A brave soldier and a kind comrade.
Rest in peace.
The command waited for orders until the morning of the when it was found that the Johnnies had skipped ; then a hot pur suit began, with the result that their rear-guard was overtaken ; but they skedaddled at once without waiting for a further introduction, leaving their rations of flour and meat half cooked by the fires. The brigade encamped in the woods which they had vacated, and we were not long in discovering that our chivalrous foes had left behind them something more than their uncooked rations, in the shape of
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 79
an industrious and affectionate little insect, scientifically known as the Pediculus vestimenti ; but the boys had a much shorter name for them, though they were mostly called graybacks. During the next few days, while in this place, the men did not have much leisure time, their spare moments being occupied in renewing the battle with this diminutive enemy all along the line ;'*£•.
On September 23 the following detail was made for drivers and attendants to the division ambulance corps : Sergeant R. B. Cleven- ger, Privates Isaac Eyrich, James Doyle, John Nice, Frank Winn, Samuel Fusman, John Reed, John Myers, Daniel Beidler, Albert Reppert, and Richard W. Seidel, for temporary service.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE 88TH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUNTEERS.
September 19, 1862.
I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders detailing the regiment as wagon guard on the I4th, we marched through Frederick and halted about two miles west of it near dark, when we received orders to join the brigade. We started on the march, passing through Middletown, and encamped on South Mountain late at night until daylight next morning (i5th), when we continued our march in search of the brigade, which we reached about 10 A.M. About noon we started, passing through Boonsborough, and encamped about half a mile out side Keedysville. Late on the i6th moved forward on the left of the goth, and laid on our arms all night in a woods. Shortly after daylight our division advanced in line of battle, our brigade supporting General Hartsuff, the 9<Dth on our right and 94th on our left, to the end of a woods, where we relieved the 83d, and com menced firing, continuing for about two hours, when we were ordered to fall back, fill our cartridge-boxes, and draw rations. During the engagement, Maj. George W. Gile was badly wounded in the leg, and the command devolved upon Capt. Myers. Loss: killed, 10; wounded, 62; missing, 5; total, 77.
H. R. MYERS,
Capt. Commanding.
A SCATTERING VOLLEY AT ANTIETAM.
Antietam was the bloodiest one-day's fight of the war, and de serves at least a brief notice before we go marching on. More men were killed and wounded on September 17 than even in Grant's sanguinary struggles in the Wilderness on any one day. The Union loss by army corps was,—
So HISTORY OF THE
ist Corps 2,590
2d Corps 5,138
4th Corps 9
5th Corps 109
6th Corps 439
9th Corps 2,349
!2thCorps 1,746
Cavalry Corps 30
Total 12,410
The heaviest loss by regiments was,—
1 5th Massachusetts, 2d Corps 318
28th Pennsylvania, 1 2th Corps 266
9th New York, 9th Corps 235
1 2th Massachusetts, 1st Corps 224
It is extremely difficult to get a correct statement of the Confed erate loss, but a careful examination of regimental, brigade, and division reports shows a loss of killed, wounded, and missing amount ing to 13,200 from September 13 to 20; the returns being very im perfect, however, it is probable that the casualties were upward of 15,000. The Confederate regiments suffering most were, —
3d North Carolina 253
I3th Georgia 217
48th North Carolina 217
I3th North Carolina 190
I4th North Carolina 213
The " tar-heels," as usual, were pushed to the front.
A word about the strength of the combating armies. McClellan gives his force as follows :
ist Corps 14,856
2d Corps 18,813
5th Corps 12,93°
6th Corps 12,300
9th Corps 13,819
I2th Corps 10,126
Cavalry Corps 4,32°
Total 87,164
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS.
81
He omits Cochrane's brigade of the 4th Corps, which was not seri ously engaged, and might as well have left out the 5th and 6th Corps also, as only two regiments of the 5th Corps, one brigade of the 6th Corps, and one regiment of the cavalry division were actively engaged, the exceptions noted sustaining nearly all the loss in those corps. The fact is that Little Mac fought about 60,000 of his men, holding the others in reserve at a time when their ''influence" might have fully, finally, and forever settled the "hash" of Lee's army and with it the fate of the Confederacy. It was a tremendous game with a magnificent stake, but the Little Napoleon was afraid of his opponent's hand.
As an important opinion bearing on this subject, we quote the following extract from the admirable " History of the io6th Penn sylvania Volunteers," written by Colonel Joseph R. C. Ward, of Philadelphia :
McClellan, in his report, put his force at 87,164. Of these the 5th and 6th Corps and the Cavalry Division, all numbering 29,550, were not engaged; this would leave but 57,614 of our troops actually present for duty. From this there must be considerable reduction to arrive at those actually engaged, for Hooker, whose corps is reported as having 14,856, says he took into action but 9000; and Williams, who succeeded to the command of Mansfield's corps, which is reported as having 10,126 men, says his corps numbered but 7000.
Taking this same ratio of reduction throughout the whole army, which is but fair, as the reports show all those marked present for duty, and include all non- combatants, such as musicians, teamsters, hospital and ambulance details, besides the guards that were left behind to guard the knapsacks and regimental property, and we would have the following :
11,530
9,000 7,000
|
ist Corps report 14,856 present fo |
||
|
2d |
18,813 |
|
|
5th |
12,930 |
|
|
6th |
12,300 |
|
|
9th |
13,814 |
|
|
1 2th |
10,126 |
|
|
4th and Cavalry |
4,320 |
87,159
36,500
To this may be added that portion of the 6th Corps that moved into position in the afternoon, but was not actively engaged, and we will put down our number at 40,000, and we have both armies about equal in point of numbers, for Lee says " the battle was fought by less than 40,000." Now, his line was formed as a semi circle, curved outward, and as McClellan attacked his line at only one place at a
6
32 HISTORY OF THE
time, Lee was enabled to move his forces from left to right, and some of the same troops that fought in the morning on his left were also engaged in the afternoon on his right, or acted as support to ihose engaged.
The Confederate estimates of their fighting force are, as usual, ridiculously small. Lee states, "This great battle was fought by Jess than 40,000 on our side." The irascible D. H. Hill says, "The battle was fought with less than 30,000 men. Had all our stragglers been up, McClellan's army would have been completely annihilated." General McLaws is one of the few Confederates who give intelligent figures in their reports. His division consisted of sixteen regiments and four batteries, numbering on September 14 (Manly's battery excluded) 4087 men, and lost in the subsequent actions (including Manly's), in killed, wounded, and missing, 2081. But if these figures are incorrect, McClellan's estimates, on the other hand, savor highly of bombast. He speaks of " nearly 200,000 men and 500 pieces of artillery engaged." "The enemy was un doubtedly greatly superior in number." And his detailed account of Lee's army, in which he states that it aggregated 97,445 men of all arms, shows that he constantly overrated Lee's strength, while General Pope, on the contrary, erred in the opposite direction. Pope fought blindly but manfully, and only learned the skill and strength of his adversary by bitter experience, but McClellan was always taking counsel of his fears. Pope never had even a fair chance for victory, while McClellan time and again had the prize within reach of his timid hand. All this in the light of subsequent information : we are all skilful strategists now.
A careful comparison of corps, division, brigade, and regimental reports indicates Lee's strength to have been as follows :
Longstreet 19,000
Jackson 15,000
Seventy-four batteries of artillery 7,000
Cavalry 3,000
Total 44,000
There were 185 regiments of infantry engaged, which, at 200 men to the regiment, would amount to 37,000 men. Many of the regi ments went into the fight several hundred strong, as the losses prove ;
LIEUTENANT ROISKKT HERRON.
CORPORAL JOHN T. WILLIAMS.
CAPTAIN JOHN J. BELSTERLING.
(Killed at Second Bull Run.)
THOMAS ALISKICHT.
JAMES HAC;UE.
COMPANY C.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA, VOLS. 83
others were the merest skeletons, their stragglers swarming over the country. The Union divisions that participated in the battle were almost cut to pieces, but there were many commands that had not fired a gun, and if McClellan had possessed the military intuition to gauge the condition of his opponent, he could have checkmated him in one move, — forward.
The fact is, that the Confederate army was so exhausted and broken as to be in no condition to make serious resistance on the i8th. Longstreet says on the morning of the i8th, "Our ranks were too much thinned to warrant a renewal of the conflict." A vivid picture of the demoralization in the enemy's lines on the afternoon of the lyth is given in General Garnett's words, "I found troops scattered in squads, so that it was impossible to distinguish men of different commands. I gathered as many men as I could get to follow me from among the dispersed force (which did not amount to a large number), and joined Dray ton's command." General Evans reports, "About two P.M. I was ordered to rally the troops then flocking to the town. After considerable exertion, with the assistance of my entire staff, I collected about 250." General Rodes had hard work to keep his men up to their work. He says, "I found that with the exception of a few men, not more than forty in all, the brigade had completely disappeared." Colonel Bennett, commanding Anderson's brigade, speaks in the same vein : " Masses of Confederate troops in great confusion were seen ; portions of Anderson's division broke beyond power of rallying after five min utes' stay." General D. H. Hill ventilates his feelings over a wider field: "The division lost 3000 out of less than 9000 engaged at Seven Pines; 4000 out of 10,000 in the battles around Richmond; but now the loss was 3241 in two battles out of less than 5000 en gaged." The Confederate losses were simply awful, the men being forced to fight by their officers so long as there were any men or any fight left. The yth South Carolina lost 140 out of 268; the i6th Mississippi, 144 out of 228; the ist Texas, 186 out of 226; and so it goes, more or less severe, all down the ghastly list, proving that there were others deserving the name of butcher more than Grant.
It goes without saying that the whole of the defeated army was
84 HISTORY OF THE
not demoralized, that the thin line that braved the Union legions would have faced the music to the end of the ball ; but what suc cessful resistance could that ragged line have made against the 25,000 men of the 5th and 6th Corps, backed by the other corps of the Union army, if a determined advance had been made on the i8th? If we had only known then what we know now of Lee's peril ! He says of his army, " Its efficiency is greatly paralyzed by the numerous stragglers^ which evil has increased instead of diminished. A great many men belonging to this army never entered Maryland, many returned after getting there, while others who crossed the river kept aloof. On the morning after the battle of the lyth, General Evans, holding the front position, had but 120 of his brigade present, and the next brigade, Garnett's, consisted of but 100 men. The bri gades of Lavvton and Armistead, at Shepherdstown ford, together contained but 600 men. This is a woful condition of affairs."
No one could with truth accuse Lee of being afraid to fight. From June 26 to September 19 he had lost in battle over 50,000 of his choicest troops, and was still facing McClellan with a chip on his shoulder, ready for a fight.
The gist of the matter is that the war could be ended only by the hardest kind of fighting, that war means blood and death and deso lation, and that when the big captain took the helm he sailed over seas of blood to victory and peace. There was no other way out. The historian has had his whack at McClellan and Antietam, and the reader can have his own opinion still ; can accept the writer's views or reject them. Readers are often wrong, especially in matters pertaining to McClellan 's campaigns.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 85
CHAPTER XIII.
ANTIETAM TO FREDERICKSBURG : SEPTEMBER 19 TO DECEMBER II,
1862.
AFTER quietly settling down in camp, many of the soldiers em braced the opportunity of visiting the battle-field and inspecting the ground over which they had fought. All over the field the bodies of the slain were scattered, friend and foe; the location of the opposing lines and the places of the many fierce charges could readily be recognized by the heaps of dead from either side. Along the pike, where the Confederates made a desperate stand, their killed lay one on top of another, while in the woods back of the Dunker Church, where the Union soldiers swept in a grand charge, the ground was strewn with the dead Federals. The bodies were swollen to an unnatural size and emitted a horrible smell, the flesh turning to a purplish black, some of them being so badly decomposed that it was impossible to move them, and they were buried where they fell. Details of Union pioneers did this work, interring the Union dead first. The bodies were wrapped in their gory blankets and deposited in long, shallow trenches, sometimes a dozen in one hole.
The dead were found in all imaginable positions and often hor ribly mangled. One Confederate had been killed while climbing over a fence, his body remaining in such a position that it might readily have been taken for that of a live man ; another was struck while tearing a cartridge, the charge still remaining between his stiffened fingers ; the head of another was taken off by a cannon- ball ; while a manly-looking Union soldier apparently had no wound anywhere, but closer inspection showed that a ball had entered one ear, coming out of the other. It was simply horrible to look on these heaps and windrows of festering bodies that once contained the spirits of the best soldiers of the two armies. The
86 HISTORY OF THE
cornfield near which the 88th stood was a veritable field of blood, being almost covered with gore, shreds of hair, bones, and brains, while broken guns, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and the usual dtbris of a battle-field were scattered in profusion everywhere. The horses also had suffered, their bloated carcasses lying all over the field, but especially where the batteries had been in action ; but the men soon sickened at these repulsive sights, few going more than once over the field.
In the mean time the camp in the woods was cleaned ; but on September 29 the regiment removed to the fields near by, about a quarter of a mile from the Potomac, where the men made themselves comfortable. An excellent spring of water was discovered in the sand on the river-bank, and the regular rations of sow-belly, salt horse, musty crackers alive with worms, and occasionally fresh meat, rice, and beans, with the usual allowance of sugar and coffee of very good quality, were issued. The men were badly off for clothing and shoes, many being in rags and almost barefoot, and consequently suffering much these cool October nights.
On October 18, Lewis Hill, one of the boy soldiers of Company G, died in camp. He had been sick for some time, and when he realized that his end was near, the great desire of his boyish heart was to see his mother before he died. Mrs. Hill was sent for and came with all possible despatch, but the means of conveyance were limited, and even a mother's piteous appeals to see her dying boy did not quicken the journey much. She arrived on the 2oth, but he had been buried the day before, his comrades, with the drum- corps of the 26th New York, following his body to the grave, and there they took the mother to show her where her boy lay. Her heart was nearly broken with grief, but the men consoled her as best they could, and, exhuming the body of the dead soldier, they put it in a rough box and the sorrowful mother took her precious clay home for final burial. Mrs. Hill subsequently returned to the regi ment and faithfully nursed the sick and wounded men until the end of the war.
In the absence of Captain Myers, who resigned November i, Cap tain Griffith took command of the regiment, all the field-officers being absent sick or wounded.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 87
Late in October overcoats and other much-needed clothing were issued to the shivering soldiers, who were poorly clad to endure the chilling night winds of the season. On October 3 the division was reviewed by President Lincoln, attended by General McClellan and a small army of lesser lights, the tall form of the President being conspicuous as he gracefully rode along the lines, critically inspect ing every soldier in the command. The appearance of the President was the signal for a hearty outburst of enthusiasm from the thousands standing at arms, and amid the thunder of artillery and music of the bands as they rang out " Hail to the Chief," the inspection and review ended and were pronounced a success.
On the 27th of October the expected marching orders came, and, striking tents, the boys bid farewell to this pleasant section of " My Maryland" and faced Dixieward, the drum corps leading off with "Carry me back to Old Virginny." The regiment had been strengthened by the return of some of its members who had been sick or wounded, and reported 331 present; but of these, thirty-one were sick and twenty-one on detailed duty, leaving less than 300 in line for action. On the 29th the brigade passed through Cramp- ton's Gap and Burkettsville, encamping in the woods near Berlin, where it remained until the 3oth, when Colonel McLean again led the regiment into Virginia, passing across the Potomac and through the little town of Lovettsville, and encamping for the night near the hamlet of Milton. Before crossing the Potomac all the sick were put aboard the cars and sent to Washington hospitals, in order that the army might not be encumbered when the time of battle arrived.
On the 3ist of October, Colonel McLean mustered the brigade, and the next day the march was resumed to Waterford, resting there until the 4th of November, when the road was again taken, the com mand bivouacking beyond Broomfield. On the 5th only about five miles were made, but on the 7th the division passed through Warren- ton, " tenting on the old camp ground," the identical spot encamped on the preceding August.
On November 10 the brigade was reviewed by General McClellan, and on the i2th proceeded to Bealeton, remaining there several days. General Gibbon now assumed command of the division and General Nelson Taylor of the brigade, which consisted of the 83d and 97th
88 HISTORY OF THE
New York, i3th Massachusetts, nth and 88th Pennsylvania Regi ments. While here Colonel McLean was compelled to resign his commission on account of sickness, the command of the regiment falling again upon Captain Griffith. A number of promotions were now made to fill vacancies in the field, Major Gile succeeding to the colonelcy, Captain Louis Wagner to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Griffith to major : but the first two officers being absent, wounded, Major Griffith was in command.
On November 18 and 19 the brigade picketed the Rappahannock, and after destroying the railroad bridge, passed through Morrisville, encamping near White Oak Church on the 23d. . The weather now set in cold and stormy, making it extremely unpleasant for the sol diers, who were greatly exposed, and presaging evil to the further prosecution of the campaign, which rumor said was to be vigorously continued until the Confederate army was finally defeated.
On November 9, George W. Jacoby was detailed temporarily to act as attendant at the Warrenton Hospital, and on November 12, Surgeon Charles J. Nordquist was appointed chief medical officer of the division, and Reuben Sanders, John Nugent, and John Shonour were detailed on the 24th as division teamsters.
On November 24, Surgeon B. F. Hough, of the gyth New York, was appointed chief medical officer of the brigade. On December i, Lieutenant Schell was detailed to proceed to Convalescent Camp and bring all convalescents, stragglers, and recruits to the regiment. On December 5, Sergeant Beath was detached for temporary duty in the quartermaster's office, and on the yth, John Thomas, Albert Wise, and Henry Haywood were also temporarily detailed for duty at brigade head-quarters.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 89
CHAPTER XIV.
FREDERICKSBURG TO CHANCELLORSVILLE : DECEMBER 12, 1862, TO MAY 7, 1863.
THE expected marching orders were issued on December 7, on which day the brigade broke camp and marched a mile or two to wards Fredericksburg ; but the movement was countermanded until the i ith, when the brigade went to the river-bank, but again returned to camp. On the i2th the great movement was begun in earnest, the division marching to the river with flying colors, hopeful of suc cess in the forthcoming battle. The Union artillery in position on the north bank of the river maintained a heavy fire against the oppo site shore during the attempt of the pioneers to lay the pontoons, but the enemy's sharp-shooters posted in the houses and cellars of the town effectually prevented the placing of the pontoons, until volun teers, rowing across the river, drove the Confederates off, when the bridge was finished. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Baxter, of the 7th Michigan, was the leader of the volunteers who poled across the river, and to his conspicuous bravery on this occasion Baxter's bri gade probably owes the commander who afterwards so creditably led it to the end of the war.
At Franklin's crossing, below the city, but slight resistance was encountered, the hills being some distance from the river and offer ing no very desirable positions for the Confederate cannon to suc cessfully resist the laying of the bridges. The crossing was effected during the afternoon of December 12, after which, massing on the plain, the soldiers rested for the night; but the minds of the men were occupied with anxious thoughts of the coming contest with the concealed forces in the woods covering the heights in front. The chances of a successful result were earnestly discussed, but no com forting conclusion was reached when the difficulties of a direct attack against the strong position held by the enemy were considered,
90 HISTORY OF THE
though every soldier resolved to do his whole duty to his flag and country. The weather had been wintry and the night was cold and cheerless; a bleak wind sweeping over the plain chilled the men to the bone, no fires being allowed for fear of drawing a hotter fire from the cannon of the inhospitable Southerners on the hills, and all that long, weary winter night, to many the last of this life, the men shivered and suffered in the darkness.
The morning of December 13 dawned quietly upon the opposing armies crouching like wild beasts ready to spring upon one another, but the bank of fog which hung over the scene like a cloud rendered any movement uncertain, and nothing could be done until this cur tain was raised to reveal the stage on which this horrible drama of war was to be performed. Finally the fog lifted and the advance began about 9.30 A.M., the i3th Massachusetts skirmishers in the van and popping away briskly at the Confederate skirmishers, driving them back without ceremony all along the front. Taylor's brigade followed closely, supported by Lyle, with Root in reserve, these brigades composing Gibbon's division. The Union cannon in the rear opening a furious fire, the Confederate artillery quickly returned the compliment, giving the division the benefit of their experience as artillerists, and, judging from the accuracy of their aim, they were veterans at the business. The Confederate advance was slowly forced back over the stage road, but when near the railroad it halted and made a determined resistance, having batteries in position supported by infantry, whose fire covered every foot of ground over which Gibbon's division was advancing. Here Taylor halted, send ing the 88th forward to a rise of ground to silence a battery which was particularly annoying to the division. Upon reaching the position the battalion opened a galling fusillade on the butternut gunners, who replied with canister, knocking over many of the men and sweeping part of the regiment back in some confusion to a ditch, where the men were rallied by the personal example of Major Griffith, Captains Harkisheimer and Shalters, Adjutant Foust, Lieu tenants Napier, Schell, Rhoads, and other officers of the regiment.
About one o'clock a spirited charge was made upon the works along the railroad, some of the regiments, especially the loyth Pennsylvania and i6th Maine, capturing many Johnnies; but the
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 91
Confederate line was too strong for Gibbon to make any impression on, and the entire line was forced back over the railroad, after sus taining much loss, the regiment losing Acting Adjutant Kartscher and Lieutenant Fulton killed, Captain Harkisheimer badly injured in the groin (he had his haversack cut in two and the hilt of his sword hit by bullets), Captain Shalters and Lieutenant Napier wounded, and many non commissioned officers and privates killed and wounded. The 88th, together with the gyth New York, held the advance after most of the other regiments had fallen back and until ordered to take a position near the stage road in the rear. Here the men lay in the freezing mud all that dismal night, dread ing the morning, while the ambulance corps was busy bringing the helpless wounded from the front and taking them to the hospitals in the rear.
The division remained here during the i4th (Sunday), and early Monday morning was called to arms, standing in this expectant position all day. On Monday night the regiment was sent on the skirmish line, and remained among the dead men in that gruesome place until three o'clock Tuesday morning, when, the army having recrossed the river, the regiment was ordered to fall back as quickly as possible. The boys, understanding the danger of the situation, lost no time in reaching the river, and arrived none too soon, as the pontoons were being taken up, the engineers supposing that all the troops were across. They had to run their boats back to take the men over.
So ended another disastrous battle, a sad chapter in the history of the regiment and a day that carried great sorrow to many loved ones whose kinsfolk were killed in this contest. Among those killed in the regiment were Lieutenants Kartscher and Fulton, who had not yet received their commissions, these documents arriving after the battle to find them beyond the influence of earthly honors. Private Nathan White, of Company I, was one of the bravest soldiers in the regiment ; as the command was being withdrawn the enemy opened fire with canister, when White, turning towards their guns, facetiously called to them to " cease firing and come to a shoulder;" but at this moment a shot entered his head and he fell dead without a groan.
92 HISTORY OF THE
The following report was made by Major Griffith :
HEAD-QUARTERS 88tH REGT. PA. VOLS.
Dec. 18, 1862. COL. S. H. LEONARD, Command'g 3d Brigade:
In accordance with orders, I herewith send a statement of the part taken by my command in the recent battle of Fredericksburg, Va.
Crossed the Rappahannock River with the rest of the brigade, being in position near the Bowling Green road, I3th Mass, being in the road as skirmishers; re mained in the position until 9.30 A.M. of the I3th. The brigade was advanced into the field fronting the enemy, driving in their pickets and supporting our skir mishers. The men were ordered to lie down in the face of a heavy artillery fire. General Taylor soon ordered an advance on the rebel battery; amid a heavy shower of grape and canister we reached the brow of the hill ; the centre of the right being swept off, the men commenced falling back, but the officers succeeded in rallying them in a trench, when we again took position on right of brigade, lying down. At two P.M. another charge was made, and silenced a rebel battery that was shelling us at railroad crossing.
The 2d Brigade ordered up to our support, I took position on their right. I retired with the 1st Brigade, marching out in quick time and in good order, having lost seven killed, thirty-four wounded, and one missing out of a total of only 183 officers and men when we advanced, and being under fire five hours.
Having no orders to fall back with our brigade, the 3d, I sustained my position on the right of the line, using all my ammunition, sixty rounds per man, and still retained the position, expecting to obtain support.
The officers and men behaved with great gallantry, and would particularly men tion my Adjt. B. F. Foust and Lieut. Geo. B. Rhoads, command'g Co, B, whose good conduct greatly encouraged the men. Of the non-com, officers, Sergts. Geo. H. Fulton, Wm. H. Forbes, and Jacob Ninesteel were conspicuous and will be recommended for promotion.
D. A. GRIFFITH,
Maj. comdg. 88 Pa. Vols.
On December 16, 1862, the regiment returned to the old camp, marching through the mire in a heavy rain, weary, dispirited, and disappointed, though determined to make the best of the cheerless situation ; but every soldier realized that the prospect was very gloomy. On the ipth the camp was removed to about four miles from Potomac Creek, and the men soon erected comfortable shelters from the nipping winter weather.
New Year's Day, 1863, dawned clear and crisp, finding the regi ment encamped near Fletcher's Chapel, doing picket and camp duty
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 93
and exercising at battalion drill in the mud as often as the powers that be thought expedient. On January 12, General John C. Robin son, having been assigned to the command of the division, reviewed the brigade, the regiment being commanded by Captain J. Parker Martin.
On January 12, Corporal Charles M. Clark was detached for spe cial duty in the quartermaster's department; and on the i5th an additional detail, consisting of Matthias Pinyard, Peter Read, J. L. Wentzel, Alfred Dautrich, Jacob Fabian, and Harrison Eddinger, was made for the same duty.
Captain Wagner was now in command of the battalion, and in pursuance of orders, on January 18 he sent Dr. Shoemaker, A. P. Carter, and Albert Booz to Aquia Creek with the sick and disabled men of the command. On the ipth of January, Peter Read re turned to the regiment from detached duty, and Levi Miller was detailed as teamster in the division ammunition train, until further orders.
As a sample of camp life the following order is given :
HEAD-QUARTERS, 20 Div. IST A. C., Jany. 24, 1863.
GENERAL ORDER No. n.
The regular routine of duties will at once be returned to. The signals for ser vice will, until further orders, be sounded as follows :
, Reveille at daylight. Police call immediately after reveille. Breakfast at 7 A.M. Surgeon's call at 7.30 A.M. Guard mounting at 8 A.M. Drill (company or skirmish) at 9 A.M. Recall at 10.30 A.M. Dinner at 12 M. Drill (battalion or brigade) at I 30 P.M. Recall at 3 P.M. First call for parade half-hour before sunset. Tattoo at 8 P.M. Taps at 8.20 P.M.
There will be dress parade every evening, regimental inspection every Sunday morning, and brigade inspection every Thursday morning at 8 o'clock.
By order GENL ROBINSON, Commanding.
Up to this date the weather had been moderate, — not much snow and very little ice, but plenty of rain, making it soft and muddy underfoot. From the i5th to the 2oth of January it was clear, with the wind just keen enough to remind one that it was winter time.
General Burnside was eagerly looking for an opportunity to deal
94 HISTORY OF THE
the enemy a crushing blow and so restore the confidence of the army, which had been badly shaken by the unfortunate and de plorable battle at Fredericksburg. He had intended a movement on the lower Rappahannock about the last of December, but the President had peremptorily forbidden it, so he conceived a plan to cross the upper Rappahannock and force Lee to battle away from his formidable intrenchments. This movement, subsequently termed the mud march, was begun on the ipth of January, the weather being favorable to military movements, and everything indicated a successful campaign.
On the 2oth the regiment struck tents and marched several miles towards the Rappahannock, then halted and bivouacked for the night, resuming the march at eight o'clock on the morning of the 2ist; but the weather now changed, a drenching cold rain falling in torrents, turning the ground first to the consistency of putty and finally to a sea of liquid mud. The troops struggled on in the sticky stuff; but soon the wagons were stalled, then the artillery stuck, and finally the men got mired, until it was not a question of getting to the enemy, but of returning to camp as speedily as pos sible. The rain continued all day and night, and when the order to countermarch was given the task of getting out of the mud was attended with almost insuperable difficulties. All the pontoons and artillery — in fact, every wheel — had to be bodily pulled from this slough of despond by the bedraggled soldiers, and the roads and fields were strewn with dead animals and wrecked wagons, frequently buried in the mire almost out of sight.
When the regiment reached the vicinity of Falmouth, the situa tion, at best, was discouraging; the ground, or what had been firm ground, was now a sea of mud, and at every step the weary men sank to their ankles in the slime. No firewood ; an abundance of water everywhere, but none fit to use for coffee ; no dry ground on which to camp; nothing but mud, mud on every hand. The men were in a pitiable plight, the attendant exposure filling the graves and hospitals more than would a battle. However, old soldiers can gen erally make themselves comfortable somehow ; so, after the arms were stacked in the Virginia mud, the men scattered in every direc tion searching for wood, water, pine boughs for bedding, etc., and
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 95
some of them finding a wagon-train, bribed the drivers for a night's lodging in the wagons.
During the night the wind shifted to the north, bringing a piercing cold blast which froze a stiff crust on top of the mud and also the dirt to the uniforms of the soldiers, so that in the morning they resembled a crowd of demoralized and forsaken graybacks rather than a brigade of honest Yanks ; but the regiment eventually encamped near Fletcher's Chapel, and on the 24th the men were given some consolation by Paymaster Brua, in the shape of four months' pay.
The army now settled down for a rest and waited for something to turn up. Around head-quarters affairs were in a deplorable con dition, General Burnside attributing, in a measure, the failure of his movements to the lack of co-operation and support on the part of some of his generals, who did not heartily concur in his plans of attacking the enemy, and he requested the dismissal of Generals Hooker, Brooks, Cochrane, and Newton, and that Generals Frank lin, Ferrero, W. F. Smith, Sturgis, and others who had freely ex pressed themselves against his strategy be transferred to some other army. General Burnside did not charge that these subordinates had been derelict in the discharge of any duty, but that they simply lacked confidence in him as the chief of the army. The President, however, refused to relieve these officers, consequently General Burn- side tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and General Hooker appointed his successor. It may be said here that the men had a high regard for Burnside, none doubting but that he had done his best ; but the feeling was almost universal that he was not com petent to command so large a body of troops as the Army of the Potomac.
" Fighting Joe" was favorably known, and at once proceeded to reorganize and discipline the entire army. Desertions were checked by issuing furloughs, the commissary was improved and better rations issued, each corps was designated by a peculiar badge, and many minor but important changes effected. So the remaining days of January and all of February and March passed, the army growing stronger and better every day ; the drills and reviews showed a marked im provement in the bearing and appearance of the troops, and the
96 HISTORY OF THE
men were quick to note the excellent spirit that had taken the place of the distrust and fear of the gloomiest period of the war.
General Hooker reviewed Robinson's division on the 2d of April, and on the 9th the ist Corps passed in review before the President. In the mean time a number of changes had taken place in the regi ment, which will be noted here.
About February i, Captain Wagner was ordered to Georgetown for treatment of his wound, and Adjutant Foust, after being com missioned major, took command of the regiment. On February 3, Dr. John W. Rawlins was appointed chief surgeon, and on the nth the morning report states that " Sergeant G. S. Nichols, having re ceived commission as second lieutenant of Company G, returned said commission, refusing to recognize the promotion over the first ser geant, he being the second sergeant." On the same day Henry Reiff and William Ramich were detailed for duty in the quarter master's department. Sergeant-Major Detre was commissioned ad jutant, to date from December 4, 1862, an admirable selection, as he proved a most competent officer. Several sergeants also received commissions as lieutenants at the same time (February 24), among them being Sergeants Kram, Beath, Middleton, Houder, and Nunneville. On February 26, Surgeon Hayes was assigned to the division hospital and Dr. Shoemaker returned to the regiment. Neal Devine was detailed for duty in the bakery on March 4, 1863, and Daniel H. Clouser was ordered on extra duty with Brigade Quarter master Jones. Dr. Rawlins was assigned to duty as acting chief medical officer of the brigade on March 10, and on the same day Ro*bert Herron and Henry Raider returned from the hospital.
By a circular order from head-quarters Army of the Potomac, dated March 21, 1863, corps badges were given to each corps as follows : ist Corps a sphere ; 2d Corps a trefoil ; 3d Corps a lozenge ; 5th Corps a Maltese cross ; 6th Corps a cross ; nth Corps a crescent ; 1 2th Corps a star.
Lieutenant- Colonel Louis Wagner returned on March 19 and took command, remaining until May 14, when he was granted twenty days' leave of absence on account of disability. The consolidated morning report for April i, 1863, shows the strength of the regi ment, as follows:
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 97
Commissioned officers present 27
Non-commissioned officers present 74
Musicians present 13
Privates present 141
255
On detailed duty , 23
Sick 19
In arrest 8
Total 305
Total present and absent 472
On this date Rest Parker was detailed as brigade teamster : it should be understood that all details for this kind of duty were for a short time only.
The commanding general having matured his plans for a grand movement against the Southern army, orders were issued to that effect, and the encampment broke up on April 28, the line of march being headed for the river below Fredericksburg. Upon reaching the vicinity of the crossing, on December 12, the column halted, and, throwing pontoons across, some of the troops marched over to the south bank, being received by a heavy artillery fire from the rebels, who as yet were in ignorance as to where Hooker intended to assault their lines.
The regiment, with the brigade, manoeuvred in this vicinity during the 28th, 29th, and 3oth, being mustered near the river on the 3oth. Meanwhile, the rebs pitched their shell over in a most unfriendly manner and much to the discomfort of the men, whose time was fully occupied in answering to their names at the muster and dodging cannon-balls when they came too near. On the ist of May the weather changed for the better, the sun shining bright and warm.
The strategy of the Union commander began now to fully develop. The ist Corps was ordered up the river, where most of the army had already gone, and engaged the enemy back of Fredericksburg. The soldiers understood that Lee was now compelled to leave his intrench- ments and meet our army on equal terms, and the rank and file, always quick to detect an advantageous movement, were greatly elated at the turn affairs had taken, many believing that Lee had at last met his match and would suffer a defeat in the coming battle. Every-
7
98 HISTORY OF THE
thing appeared to be going along smoothly, and the troops were greatly inspirited, which feeling was intensified by a congratulatory order from General Hooker announcing that "The enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out from behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him," and much more of the same sort ; indeed, it has been asserted that the commanding general boasted that the " Almighty could not pre vent him from obtaining a victory ;" but these events indicate the truth of the proverb that "Man proposes, but God disposes," as also the fitness of a saying then much used, "Don't shout till you get out of the woods."
Lee, however, showed no disposition to run away ; on the con trary, as soon as he understood Hooker's purpose, he put the bulk of his army in motion to attack the Union forces entangled in the dense woods above Fredericksburg known as the Wilderness, and to .that point our march was directed, reaching Banks's Ford on the ist of May and bivouacking there all night. Over the river the deep booming of cannon came rumbling through the trees, tell ing of a desperate struggle in the thicket in that direction. The division marched the following day (Saturday, May 2) to United States Ford, and, crossing the Rappahannock, moved towards Chan- cellorsville, the sound of battle becoming more distinct as the head of the column thridded the gloomy depths of the dark woods. Here the column halted for a short time ; but orders having been received to hurry to the front, the march was again resumed.
As the column approached the field, news of the rout of the nth Corps was received, and soon many of the stragglers were met, badly demoralized, and swiftly putting a safe distance between their own worthless bodies and the danger of the battle-field. During a fight the rear of an army is always encumbered by these wrecks of sol diers, some worthy ones wounded or sick, but many genuine skulkers who on some excuse have dropped out, and who glibly tell the sor rowful story of how "their regiment has all been cut up," as they quickly pike to the rear.
Arriving in proxknity to the field, the division took position and intrenched, while through the woods in front the sullen rumble and roar of the cannon intermingled with the intermittent reports of
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 99
musketry ; now in quick single shots, then gaining power and volume until it became a long, steady roll ; this was the music, the crescendo and diminuendo, of the battle-field, telling unmistakably that the fight was still on. Occasionally the bright flash of a bursting shell was seen, but too far off for harm ; and through the greater part of the night, in fitful swells, this infernal chorus was kept up, the dis tant huzzas of the loyal troops sometimes being heard above the loud roar of cannon and the sharp crackle of musketry. This night was an anxious and almost sleepless one to the men of the ist Corps, lying on the fringe of the battle-field, and when Sunday morning came they expected to be ordered to succor their hard- pressed comrades of the other corps who had fought so well in the dense woods in front.
The contest was renewed at an early hour in the morning, a mile or more distant, and continued with unabated fury until near noon, when the sound of the conflict came nearer, the piercing " Ki-yi" of the rebel yell being often distinguished above the cheers of the Union soldiery as either side gained some advantage by a charge or countercharge. Long lines of wounded streamed down towards the ford, — true soldiers with powder-stained faces, shattered limbs, and bleeding bodies, bearing the badges of the 2d, 3d, nth, and i2th Corps. The brigade threw out skirmishers in the woods in front and flank, the crack of the videttes' rifles giving warning that the time for action might come at any moment. While waiting here for orders, a request came from the brigade general for a detail of picked men to go carefully between the lines and recover some in trenching tools that had been abandoned a day or two before. The choice fell upon Lieutenant S. H. Martin, who, with twenty selected men, went outside of the lines, though in great danger, found the tools, and brought them in without losing a man. These same tools subsequently proved of great benefit, being used for throwing up works to protect the rear of our army while crossing the river in retreat.
The 300 men with the regiment, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Wagner, anxiously waited all day, momentarily expecting to be ordered to the front, but no orders came. All day long the tumult of battle rattled and thundered a short distance in front, but
100 HISTORY OF THE
at night the brigade still remained in the breastworks, staying here during the 4th and 5th, soaked by the rain and befouled by the mud ; but on the 6th the position was abandoned, the Rappahannock crossed, and tents pitched near Falmouth.
And so this brilliantly-planned but badly-executed campaign ended in a very discouraging manner ; and while the men felt that somehow they did not have a fair chance, that the movement ought to have been successful, yet it was noticeable that there was not the same bitter feeling manifested as followed the Fredericksburg slaughter. Though Hooker had not won a victory, he would not own a defeat, for a "congratulatory" order was issued to his army, praising it for what had been accomplished, affirming a renewal of confidence in its prowess, appealing to its pride, and stating that it had inflicted heavier blows than it had received, having placed 18,000 of the enemy's troops hors de combat, and much more of the same kind ; but to the intelligent reader, in the light of subsequent events, all this savors very much of braggadocio.
General Lee likewise issued an order to his army, but in a some what different spirit, and "recommended that the troops unite on Sunday next in ascribing unto the Lord of hosts the glory due unto His name."
In reviewing this movement, from which so much was reasonably expected, it is difficult to assign a reason for its failure, unless it was a rebuke from the Almighty to a commander who so contemptuously despised His power in so great a matter. It was the general opinion among the soldiers that this humiliating disaster was due to some cause other than even the rout of the nth Corps, which command was made the scapegoat for the shortcomings of the whole army. In the " History of the n8th Pennsylvania Volunteers" is given an insight concerning one of the potent factors contributing to the loss of this battle :
A large tent had been pitched for the use of army head-quarters. The flaps open, its occupants and their doings were plainly in view. General Hooker, in reclining posture, still suffering from the blow he received from a falling pillar of the Chancellorsville house, was surrounded by a number of officers. The libations were quite imposing, and the beverage luxuriant and expensive. The light wines of France were apparently the exclusive tipple. The many abandoned
DAVID K. HAKT/EL Company C.
COKPOKAI. HKNKY TOWN-SEND. Company C.
LlKI'TKNANT JOHN WlTMOYEU.
Company H.
LIEUTENANT JAMES MCCHALIKER. Company H.
SEKGKANT WILLIAM CuAMr.ERt
Company D. ( Killed at FrederiokslHtffj. L '.
COMPANIES C, D, AND H.
EIGHTY- EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 101
bottles, the broken and empty baskets, the frequent popping of champagne corks, indicated a free and liberal allowance of this intoxicant. An impertinent fellow, observing General Hooker as the only one of the party not upon his feet, inquired the cause, and a reply was made by an officer to the effect that he had been shot. " Shot in the neck," quickly responded the inquirer. The smile with which his response was received assured him that he had not shot far from the mark.
And Chancellorsville was not the only battle that General John Barleycorn lost to the Union cause, though it has been strenuously de nied that the commanding general was incapacitated from this cause.
Upon returning from this campaign the brigade lost the services of the 26th New York Regiment ; their two years' enlistment having expired, the men of this command bid their comrades good-by and departed for home. The 26th was a good regiment, composed of hard fighters who reflected great credit on their State.
102 HISTORY OF 7 HE
CHAPTER XV.
LEADING TO GETTYSBURG: MAY S TO JUNE 30, 1863.
ON May 7, 1863, the regiment marched in a heavy rain to White Oak Church, encamping in the wet and mud, but moved camp to another place near by on the nth, and when nicely fixed received orders to pull up stakes and change to a more desirable location. The affairs of the country and the situation in the Army of the Potomac at this period were probably the darkest in the history of the war. Defeated, baffled, and thwarted time and again, it did sometimes appear that the Southern Confederacy might become an established fact ; but notwithstanding all these discouragements, to the true men of this glorious army the final result of the war was never in doubt. Having a strong conviction of the righteousness of the Union cause, they offered their lives in its defence, leaving the result in the hands of Almighty God. If they had not won victories, they felt that the fault did not rest with the men in the ranks, but was due rather to the mismanagement of commanding officers, and hoped for better luck next time. The weather was improving and drilling was resumed, every needful preparation being made for the coming campaign. While at this place a num ber of promotions were made in the regiment, Sergeant G. M. Donnelly being promoted to sergeant-major, Sergeant Nichols to lieutenant, Sergeant Hanlon to lieutenant, Sergeant Booz to lieu tenant, and on May 21, Captain Patterson was granted twenty days' sick leave.
On the 3<Dth of May the corps was reviewed by General Reynolds, who warmly commended the troops for their excellent appearance. On June i the regiment had 326 present, the aggregate present and absent being 448. Major Foust was in command, Colonel Wagner having been forced to leave on account of his wound disabling him from active duty in the field. Camp rumors of all sorts spread fast
EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNA. VOLS. 103
and furious, everybody anticipating some great movement ; but the wisest prophet was at a loss, and the knowing ones were as ignorant about the future as the dullest man in camp.
On June 4 orders to pack up came, but were countermanded, to be renewed and changed again on the 6th. On the i2th, however, final orders were issued, and, breaking camp, the brigade marched to the north, bivouacking near an old mill after a twenty-mile tramp. The march was resumed in the morning, the troops passing Grove Church and halting near Bealeton until ten o'clock on the morning of the 1 4th, when the tramp was continued. Manassas was reached at five o'clock, at which place a halt was made until the next morn ing, when the division proceeded to Centreville and formed line of battle, expecting the enemy to come through the mountain passes to attack Washington.
The division waited until the iyth for the Johnnies to turn up, but they not putting in an appearance, the march was resumed to Guilford Station, where a rest was taken until the iQth, on which day the command bivouacked at Goose Creek, after marching about fifteen miles in a heavy rain. The weary and besoaked men were soon rolled in their blankets, sleeping the slumber of the just; but at midnight the long roll beat sharp and clear in camp, causing every soldier to spring to arms. This proved a false alarm, however, and the men were soon resting again. The corps remained at Goose Creek until June 25, when the march was resumed, the command crossing the Potomac at Edwards Ferry and halting at Barnsville until the 26th ; on that day the column passed through Stanleyville, and, crossing the Monocacy, reached Middletown on the 27th.
On the 28th the corps, with flying colors, marched through the loyal city of Frederick, at which place we were informed that Gen eral Meade had been appointed to the command of the army; this news excited no particular remark, as Meade was favorably known as the commander of that effective division, the Pennsylvania Reserves. The green fields and rolling hills of " My Maryland," with its loyal people, were a grateful contrast to the blighted plains and ruined homesteads of " Old Virginny," whose population was mostly bit terly opposed to the Union, giving the blue-coats scowls and black looks in place of the welcome extended by these patriotic Mary-
104 HISTORY OF THE
landers, and the soldiers of the Union army will ever kindly re member the beautiful little towns of this section, especially Fred erick, Boonsborough, and Middletown.
A halt was made near Emmittsburg on June 29, but the march was resumed the next morning, and amidst the wildest demonstra tions of joy the Pennsylvania line was crossed and the troops were in God's country, tramping the soil of the glorious old Keystone State, the first time for nearly two years that many of the boys had the privilege of being home again.
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CHAPTER XVI.
GETTYSBURG: JULY i, 2, AND 3, 1863.
THE first day of July, 1863, dawned clear and warm upon the ist Corps, bivouacked in the fields near Marsh Creek. The 88th was on picket, and upon returning to the camp about nine o'clock, .head of column pulled out on the Gettysburg pike. The morning was blistering hot, and the stifling clouds of yellow dust, settling on the ranks like a blanket, filled the eyes, mouth, nostrils, and entire person of the soldier with an impalpable powder, while the perspira tion, running down the skin, ploughed furrows through the dirt. As the column neared Gettysburg the rumble and roar of cannon indicated that the Johnnies had been found, and soon the balls of smoke from the bursting shells were visible over the trees near the white cupola of the Seminary. Presently the crackle of the rifles was heard, mingled with the manly cheers of the Union soldiers and occasionally the shrill yelp of the rebels heard above the din of battle. The regiment had less than 300 men in line, led by Major Foust, the brigade numbering about 1200.
The division was held in reserve near the Seminary until about noon, at which time, heavy bodies of the enemy being reported by the cavalry as coming in near Oak Hill, Baxter was ordered to move in that direction. Major Foust called the regiment to arms, and, after loading, the brigade, following the ridge over the cut, preceded by Colonel Coulter with the nth and 9yth Regiments, soon reached the fields and woods near the Mummasburg road. Here, after some preliminary skirmishing by the advance, the regiment formed line of battle near the road, facing northeast. After alignment, skir mishers were sent into the woods to ascertain what the rebs were about ; but no extended investigation was necessary, as the boys from the other side were coming right along, supported by O'Neal's Alabama brigade in line of battle, cocked and primed for a fight.
106 HISTORY OF THE
It is worthy of remark, in this connection, that the boys who wore U. S. on their blankets never appeared in better spirits for battle than at this moment ; they were full of fight ; not that they took naturally to that kind of medicine, but every man and boy felt that it was now or never, and all resolved to fight as they had never fought before.
When O'Neal's lines came in view the skirmishers at once opened upon them, and the enemy soon fell back into the woods, having sustained considerable loss. After these troops had been repulsed another line was observed approaching the road, through Forney's farm, taking Baxter directly in the left flank ; this movement ne cessitated a change of front to the top of the hill, bringing the brigade behind a low stone wall nearly perpendicular to the road. And none too soon, for the field in front was swarming with Con federates, who came sweeping on in magnificent order, with perfect alignment, guns at right shoulder and colors to the front, — to many the dead march. Baxter's men behind the wall waited quietly for the enemy to come within range, word being passed along to aim low, and at the command a sheet of flame and smoke burst from the wall with the simultaneous crash of the rifles, flaring full in the faces of the advancing troops, the ground being quickly covered with their killed and wounded as the balls hissed and cut through the exposed line. These troops were Iverson's brigade of North Carolinians, and though they were badly shaken by this unexpected and destructive fire, they still essayed to advance to the charge ; but so persistent and hot was their reception that they were compelled to fall back a couple of hundred yards to a little gully, where they rallied and opened a sharp fire on the Union line. This fusillade was maintained some time, during which the men kept well under cover.
Lying side by side behind the stone wall were Sergeant Evans, of Company B, and John Witmoyer, of Company H, industriously engaged in firing at the Confederates, sending back the leaden com pliments with interest added. Being good marksmen, their balls struck in or near the opposing line, making it very lively for the "tar-heelers" in the gully. A color-bearer making himself very conspicuous by defiantly flaunting his flag in plain view, Evans
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remarked, as he brought his piece to his shoulder, "John, I will give those colors a whack." At this moment Witmoyer heard the dull thud of a bullet, and turning quickly, asked Evans if he was hit. The sergeant did not reply, but slowly bringing his musket down, fell over dead, the ball having pierced his heart.
The fire from the Confederate infantry and artillery was rapidly thinning the ranks, but the boys made it very interesting for the gray line posted in the depression a hundred yards or more to the front, and the rebels suffered so much that they finally manifested a dispo sition to surrender, many of them throwing up their hats and in other ways indicating that they had had more than enough, and were willing to be taken back into the Union ; our officers, however,